24 April 2025 / 24 April 2025 by robwhite
The government has announced that we will have to wait between 12 and 14 years for a new Royal Berkshire Hospital to start to be built in Reading, breaking election promises made by all three of Reading’s new Labour MPs. Meanwhile the health system is broken. Child mortality is going up. Life expectancy is going […]
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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 […]
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 / 4 February 2025 by robwhite
Council issued more than 6,000 parking fines in error Labour-run Reading Council has admitted that 6,136 parking fines were issued in error due to a faulty legal process. The council estimates that about £360,000 will need to be refunded to residents. Mike Harling, Battle Ward campaigner says: “This blunder means that the town’s already stretched […]
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 December 2024 / 17 December 2024 by kathrynmccann
Saplings have been mown down in error at a rewilding area in Caversham A rewilding area in Bugs Bottom, Caversham, has been accidently mown over by Reading Borough Council. The area had been subject to considerable tree planting by The Conservation Volunteers Woodland Improvement Team, using funding provided by Network Rail in 2020, with an […]
11 December 2024 / 11 December 2024 by kathrynmccann
Cllr Dave McElroy, our Reading Central candidate at the last general election, responds to the budget Greens call for councils to be exempt from huge tax risesAs a local councillor, I was excited to see extra funding for local government announced for next year, but it appears that that could be lost immediately through the […]
31 October 2024 / 31 October 2024 by kathrynmccann
A total of 6,136 tickets were incorrectly issued and paid for parking on red routes which were not legally enforceable Commenting on Reading Council incorrectly issuing 6,000 parking charge notices (PCNs), Councillor Dave McElroy (Green Party, Redlands Ward) said: “I was shocked and disappointed to learn that the Labour-run council had issued a massive 6,000 […]
22 September 2024 / 22 September 2024 by kathrynmccann
Reading Green Party is pushing the council to apply for power over which utility works happen when. Labour-run Reading Borough Council has pushed a commitment to tackle utility companies digging up roads across the town back by a year. The council could apply for the power to have more control over roadworks, as other councils […]