Local News and Issues, 6th July - 12th July 2008

Beer

A feature describes the wonders that await at the 21st Reading Real Ale and Jazz Festival (RAAJ), which takes place from Thursday, July 17th to Saturday, July 19th in Christchurch Meadows. Loddon Valley Brewery and West Berks Brewery will be among the oast houses "exhibiting their finest bitters and ales". There will be "plenty of swing" with music from six live jazz bands. Details on how to obtain tickets are on our events page. (Reading Evening Post 09/07/08 p16)

Bridges

A letter from a Caversham resident comments on the Sonning Eye Bridge closure (detailed last week) and on the broader issue of the continuing need for a third Thames road bridge in Reading - specifically for the A329M. She suggests that a solution to the problem would be to move the county boundary - removing Oxfordshire from the equation, and giving Berkshire the full responsibility for the new bridge scheme. (Reading Chronicle 10/07/08 p14)

Children

The 'Chronicle' reports on the start of building work for the new £1.8m Caversham Children's Centre in Amersham Road. The scheme, which will incorporate Caversham Nursery School, is due to be finished next Spring, and is being built by the contractors Morgan Ashurst. (Reading Chronicle 10/0708 p16)

Crime

Police are seeking a hit-and-run biker (who was riding a green Kawasaki) following an incident on Caversham Bridge in the early hours of Sunday, July 6th when a man leaving the Piper's Island restaurant was knocked down and injured. (Reading Evening Post 09/07/08 p3)

A 23-year old Sonning Common man has been arrested in connection with a hit-and-run car incident in Bridge Street at 9pm on Friday, July 4th when there was a collision between a Peugeot 106 and a Ford Fiesta. (Reading Chronicle 10/07/08 p3, Reading Evening Post, 09/0708 p3)

Education

In a story billed as an 'Exclusive', the Chronicle provides details of a report (described as "shocking" and "stunning") in which Reading primary schools were asked for a self-assessment of their readiness to accept a full new year intake of 1,553 four year olds in September for the start of the new academic year. 17 schools said they did not have enough toilets to cope with the incoming hordes of little ones, and security was highlighted as a problem at 14 schools – including Micklands, The Hill, St Anne's, Emmer Green Primary, Caversham Primary and Caversham Park Primary. (Reading Chronicle 10/07/08 pp1,3)

From September, the headteacher of Caversham Park Primary School, Sarah Parish, will spend a year in charge of Battle Primary School to help raise standards there. The move follows on from an Ofsted report last January - the governors of Caversham Park have appointed deputy head Gail Ray as acting headteacher while Mrs Parish is away. (Reading Chronicle 10/0708 p4)

King's Meadow Swimming Baths

The future of King's Meadow swimming baths is said to remain unclear (according to the 'Post'), after the RBC ruled that just two rival schemes for the site are to be considered - a proposal from Askett-Hawk Developments to turn the site into a large -scale hotel, and a proposal from the King's Meadow campaign to retain the Edwardian open-air pool for public use. Both parties have been asked to submit more detailed proposals and will present their revised applications to the Council's culture and sport scrutiny panel later in the year. (Reading Evening Post 09/07/08 p4)

Police

Inspector Penny Mackenzie will take charge of Caversham's Neighbourhood Action policing areas after taking over from Inspector Graham Dix who has moved to a new role. Her appointment forms part of a wider programme of staff changes within the Caversham police team. (Reading Evenng Post 09/0708 p16)

UFOs

In what is described as "another" unidentified object being spotted over the skies of Caversham, a Managua Close resident was awoken in the early hours of Wednesday, July 2nd by the "steady engine sound" of a UFO. On looking out of her window, the lady resident saw a bold round block of light that "was really green to my eyes". Thames Valley Police have said that the hovering object was not one of their helicopters. The 'Post' urges readers "who have seen any extra-terrestrial activity" to contact UFO investigator Michael Soper on fc@accf.fastnet.co.uk, or else to contact 'Post' reporter Anna Roberts on 0118 918 3063. Caversham is described by the newspaper as "an alien hot spot" - We can but agree. (Reading Evening Post 08/07/08 p10)