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News Archive - Week Beginning 15th November 2009
Crime
There was an arson attack at the Budgens supermarket in Cavendish Road, Emmer Green on bonfire night, Thursday November 5th, with a firework being thrown through a rear window at the store. The fire burned itself without causing any major problems. Anyone with information can call Thames Valley police on 01865 841148. (Reading Chronicle 19/11/09 p7)
There have been two separate handbag thefts in Hills Meadow – on October 31st and on November 2nd. If you know anything, please call police on 01865 841148. (Reading Post 18/11/09 p19)
Education
Queen Anne’s School has appointed HLM Architects to design a £7m overhaul of its boarding accommodation for students. The first phase includes a £3m replacement of the current Lower Sixth house that will provide new facilities for all 56 pupils in the house. Work is due to start in summer 2010 and is expected to be finished a year later. (Get Reading 20/11/09 p24)
Elections
Anneliese Dodds, the Labour candidate for the Reading East parliamentary seat (that includes Caversham) has pledged to claim “only the average Reading wage” if she becomes an MP. There is some debate as to what the average Reading wage is – estimates range between £22,506 and £35,000. Ms Dodds is reported by ‘Get Reading’ to be a lecturer and researcher at the University of London: on the ‘Labour List’ e-networking website she argues: “people should vote for me because I have been working hard for the people of Reading, Caversham and Woodley for almost three years as the Labour Party candidate…” (Get Reading 20/11/09 p11)
Planning
The housing developers T A Fisher and Sons (who specialise in infill developments) have had their application to build a number of three-storey buildings at the rear of the Lower Henley Road refused by the RBC. At a Council planning committee meeting on Wednesday, November 4 th there was criticism of the plans for being “overbearing” – the reason eventually given by the committee for the refusal of planning permission. (Reading Post 18/11/09 p29)
The RBC annual local strategic partnership forum met at Reading Town Hall last Tuesday, November 17th to update the town’s ‘2020 Vision’ plan on issues originally raised in 1999. Nearly 250 people attended the event to put forward their views on how Reading can work to offer a future that is sustainable both economically and environmentally. A consultation paper on the 2020 agenda is now being drawn up and will be open for discussion within the next few months. Climate change and the economy are described as significant issues that have been added over the last decade to the original plan. (Get Reading 20/11/09 p10)
Traffic
The RBC was due to submit Phase One of its Transport Innovation Fund bid last Friday, 20th November, If successful, Reading and its neighbours would get £59m from the government for public transport funding in exchange for implementing a Low Emission Zone which charges lorries to enter the town centres, either £5 or £50 depending on their size. The rest of the total £380m bid would come later, and the bid’s most controversial aspect, potential congestion charging for non-residents after 2016, would not have to be agreed until Phase One is underway. (Reading Chronicle 19/11/09 p5)
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