20 February 2025 / 19 February 2025 by niallsomerville
Labour-run Reading Council to cut budget for tackling inequality at council budget setting meeting. The proposed cuts will directly and severely impact local residents by reducing support for essential community projects that promote sports, education, skills development, and cultural activities. Labour councillors are proposing cutting the inequality budget in South Reading – Church Ward and […]
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7 February 2025 / 7 February 2025 by niallsomerville
Despite a Labour-run Reading Council house building programme, the total number of council homes in Reading has decreased by five between 2021 and 2023, impacting residents in need of affordable housing. Data from the council reveals a net loss of five council homes, with the number dropping from 6,987 in 2021/22 to 6,982 in 2023/24. […]
31 January 2025 / 7 February 2025 by niallsomerville
Labour increases bus fare cap from £2 to £3 Greens were disappointed that Labour raised the bus fare cap from £2 to £3. Reading Buses say that ‘not all fares will rise to this level’, implying many will go up. Councillor Dave McElroy has raised this at a council meeting. Cllr McElroy says, “Greens are […]
28 January 2025 / 28 January 2025 by niallsomerville
Fly-tipping is up, but the anti-fly tipping team is issuing significantly fewer fines for dumping waste this year. Greens are calling for more people in the anti-fly-tipping team. Councillor Rob White (Green Party, Park Ward) said: “It is a shame that Labour councillors haven’t resourced the anti-fly-tipping team properly. Fewer fines are being issued and […]
17 April 2024 / 27 April 2024 by niallsomerville
The local Green Party has unveiled its plans to create a fairer, greener and cleaner Reading ahead of the local elections this year. As usual, the Green Party is a standing candidates in every ward across the town. Priorities in their local manifesto include: The Green Party are currently the main opposition party on Reading […]
15 March 2024 / 17 April 2024 by niallsomerville
The Green Party’s candidate for the new Reading Central Parliamentary constituency is local Councillor Dave McElroy (Redlands Ward). Dave is a scientist, a dad, and a sports lover. He has lived in Reading since 2017 and works for an international organisation dedicated to protecting land and farmers. As a hardworking councillor, Dave is a tireless […]
29 February 2024 / 17 April 2024 by niallsomerville
Greens have lobbied for action on renewables and insulation The Labour Party ditching its plan to spend £28 billion a year on green investments is a big step backward. It’s bad for Reading’s environment, Reading’s economy, and for creating good jobs in the town. Protecting our planet for the future and making sure the UK […]
26 February 2024 / 27 April 2024 by niallsomerville
Councillor Dave McElroy (Green Party, Redlands) has welcomed council investment in emptying bins as part of the council’s budget. This is following much Green Party campaigning on missed and delayed bin collections. Green councillors have for some time been campaigning on Labour-run Reading Council’s poor record on delayed and missed bin collections. At the peak […]
12 February 2024 / 17 April 2024 by niallsomerville
Reading Council have delivered just a third of the affordable housing needed in Reading. According to the Berkshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment Reading needs 406 new affordable homes delivered every year for residents in need, but the council have managed just 135 last year. This is down from 178 the previous year. Councillor Dave McElroy […]
5 January 2024 / 17 April 2024 by niallsomerville
Many roads have experienced delays with collecting their bins recently adding to wider litter and fly tipping problems. For the week commencing Monday 13 November: Councillor Dave McElroy (Green Party, Redlands Ward) said: “For the week commencing Monday 13 November, 24% of roads had a delay with their bin collection. Overflowing bins leads to problems […]
