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News Archive - Week Beginning 8th August 2010 (Two Week Edition)

Charity

The Lions Club of Reading hold a golf day on Friday, September 3rd at Reading Golf Club in Kidmore End Road, Emmer Green – with the funds raised going to the Dolphin and Lion children’s wards at Royal Berkshire Hospital. The organisers are looking for sponsors for the holes – for more and to register visit the web site. (Get Reading 18/08/10 p14)

The Caversham nail bar ‘Planet Nails’ in Church Street is offering 30% off all its treatments on Saturday August 28th, with the takings for the day going to the Pakistani flood appeal. Danny Nguyen, owner of the site, is hoping to raise at least £1,000, with the Mayor of Reading, Councillor Gul Khan, attending the bar in the morning (presumably not for his nails?) (Reading Chronicle 20/08/10 p8)

Children

The RBC is consulting the public on improvements to the space and play facilities at Christchurch Meadows. The proposals would also upgrade paths and cycleways and ‘enhance the biodiversity of the site’. Copies of the consultation are available at libraries, online here or by calling 0118 939 0944. (Reading Post 18/08/10 p7)

Money allocated under the government ‘Playbuilder’ scheme to improve children’s playgrounds at three sites in Reading (including two in the RG4 area) has been has been withdrawn owing to recession-based cuts. The north-of-river sites affected are play areas in Mapledurham (which loses £50,000 of funding) and at Bugs Bottom (which loses out on £35,000 of funds). (Get Reading 13/08/10 p6)

Crime

The Caversham neighbourhood policing team have provided residents of RG4’s Mayfield Drive with SelectaDNA kits – a forensic property marking scheme aimed at deterring burglars. The road is the first in Reading where every resident has taken part in the initiative. (Reading Chronicle 19/08/10 p24, Get Reading 20/08/10 p22)

A man and a woman stole a charity box from inside the Prospect Street retailer Caversham Herbs at around 2.30pm on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 17th. The box contained money destined for the East-West Detox charity. The thieves are both described as being white, and in their late teens to early 20s. Anyone with information should contact PC Vafa Manley on Tel: 01865 841148. (Get Reading 20/08/10 p4)

Parking

A letter from Gill Hart of Kennington, Oxford says that she received a £35 parking fine in Caversham (the exact location is not specified) after visiting her 87-year-old mother there. She says “it took me less than 10 minutes to go into her house, ask for a visitor’s permit… …and return to my car outside” – during which time the parking ticket was issued. Letters to the RBC questioning the matter have been to no avail, and Ms Hart concludes: “hopefully this letter will warn others about the way traffic wardens operate…” (Reading Chronicle 19/08/0 p14)

Proposals put forward by the RBC's lead councillor for strategic planning and transport Richard Willis to curtail free daytime in-street parking in Reading town centre 'could be rolled out to Caversham' if the scheme is judged to be a success. (Reading Post 11/08/10 p3)

Public Order

An appeal against the RBC’s decision to reject a premises licence for the Island Bar on Piper’s Island, Caversham has been adjourned until Wednesday, September 29th. The licence was turned down by the Council’s licensing committee in July following a review prompted by police complaints about two brawls at parties at the bar. (Get Reading 20/08/10 p9)

Pubs

The Campaign for Real Ale hosted an open day at the Baron Cadogan in Prospect Street on Tuesday, August 10th. In the words of the Reading CAMRA chair Sandie Gill, “lots of people enjoyed our Reading Beer and Cider Festival in May, but I want them to know what else we do to promote real ale and pubs in this area”. (Reading Chronicle 19/08/10 p33)

Schools

RBC schools saw an overall 98.6% pass rate in the 2010 ‘A’ level results, details of which were released last Thursday, August 19th. At Highdown School in Surley Row, there was a 96% pass rate at grades A – E, with 31% passing with A and B grades. At Queen Anne’s School in the Henley Road, there was a 100% pass rate at grades A – E, with 79% passing with A and B grades. (Get Reading 20/08/10 pp1-3)

Services

Two young Caversham Park Village residents, Grace Beaumont and Rebecca Wood, are said to be hoping to open a youth centre in the Milestone Centre off the Northbrook Road. The youth club would be open three nights a week, and is reported to have already attracted the support of local businesses and neighbourhood police. In the words of Grace Beaumont: “we were just like (local teenagers) and doing the same thing ... ... I've lived in Caversham my whole life so I know what there is and isn't to do”. (Reading Chronicle 12/08/10 p32)

A job service helping people with learning difficulties into work, 'Contact Sopported Employment' (part of the Affinity Trust), has moved into new premises in Caversham's Marsack Street. The new premises were officially launched by Mayor of Reading Cllr Gul Khan on July 28th, the mayor congratulating the organisation's seven staff for their “fantastic work”. (Reading Chronicle 12/08/10 p32)