Reading Liberal Democrats

In line with the Lib Dem policy to cut crime, Deputy Town Mayor, Councillor Kay Gilder, is pleased to announce the completion of a formal agreement with Thames Valley Police for a dedicated office at the Oakwood Centre for the neighbourhood police team to use as a base. The agreement includes a commitment from the police to hold surgeries and provide neighbourhood police officers and two police community support officers (recruitment permitting) in the town.

As soon as the necessary police equipment is installed, the local police and the PCSOs will be using the office as a base during their shifts.

Although it will not operate as a police station, it will result in the police being in the town longer during their shifts and increase the already beneficial liaison on local matters between the police and the Town Council.

People can stop PCSO Irene McKenzie (shown with Town Mayor Cllr Tony Mattingley) whenever they see her out and about. She works a shift pattern so it is not just office hours. Also, anyone can leave a message at the Town Council offices at the Oakwood Centre for her, either in person or by calling 0118 969 0356. From April she will have a dedicated police office within the Oakwood Centre as well.

For more information see the Woodley Herald February 2007 Issue 2

Thames Valley Police held a Recruitment Roadshow for PCSOs on Thursday 15th March. We should know the results soon.

The Liberal Democrats are taking the lead, proposing real action at a national level and acting to cut crime where we are in power locally. Violent crime is rising, anti-social behaviour is still a serious problem, and our prisons are overflowing.

Labour have talked tough but have failed to deliver despite 10 years in power.

The Tories are in disarray on crime. One day it’s hug a hoodie; the next it’s slap a hoodie. Who knows what the Tories stand for now? What we do know is that the last Tory government cut police numbers and let violent crime double. In fact the Woodley Tories are so far behind the times that their website is still showing their belated attempt (March 2006) to raise a petetion to implement the Woodley PCSO scheme that was already being considered by the Lib Dems.

For more information visit the Lib Dem We Can Cut Crime website today

Reading Liberal Democrats are renewing their campaign against Labour’s plans to turn Reading’s IDR inner ring road one- way. The campaign comes as a paper to go to the Borough Council’s Cabinet next Monday (19 March) invites the Cabinet to reconsider their decision not to hold a public inquiry into the scheme – the very proposal put forward by the Lib Dems in September but blocked by Labour.

Commenting, Lib Dem group leader Cllr Bob Green said:

“At the special Council meeting in September I argued that a scheme of this importance should not go ahead without the clear support of a majority of the public and that only a public inquiry could secure and demonstrate that support. Nothing has happened since to make me alter that view. Indeed it is obvious that the people of Reading are becoming less convinced that the scheme makes sense with every day that passes.”

Objector to the scheme and Liberal Democrat prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East, Gareth Epps, said:

“The delay caused by Wokingham’s court action just serves to make it clear. Reading’s Labour majority was wrong to ignore our calls for a public inquiry, which would have been in process now. Instead they voted to ignore the massive weight of public opinion against this scheme.”

“The one-way IDR was wrong then and it’s wrong now. The Council’s own guidance states that schemes like this – controversial, and where there is doubt on the thoroughness of consultation – may well be valid for a public inquiry. If Labour refuses this once again, thousands of people across Reading will be even more angry. They can demonstrate that anger in the May elections.”

Liberal Democrats from Reading were in Harrogate for the Liberal Democrats’ conference last weekend to back a move to make housing in Reading warmer, greener and more affordable.

The Liberal Democrat plans that were debated on Sunday (March 4th) would:

• Help lift pensioners and disabled people out of fuel poverty;
• Cut the number of excess winter deaths in our region
• Make it easier for families to insulate their homes and cut fuel bills;
• Aim to more than halve the amount of polluting carbon emissions produced by homes in Reading.

A recent government study found 133,000 households living in fuel poverty in the South East, 3.9% of all households in the region. Government statisticians have calculated that, across the South East Region there were 4,700 excess winter deaths, of whom 4,300 were pensioners.

Local Liberal Democrats are backing proposals that would see fuel bills for local people fall dramatically and carbon emissions from homes cut by over half by 2050.

Local Liberal Democrat campaigner, Chris Harris (photo – right) said,

“Making Reading a greener, cheaper and more sustainable community must be a top priority.

“This is why I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues voted in favour of these plans to cut carbon emissions from homes by more than half. This would save families here in Reading a lot of money currently being poured into the gas and electricity companies’ pockets.”

Commenting on the specific proposals, Chris Harris said,

“Many people in Reading can’t afford to heat their homes properly. 4,700 people in the South East died last winter who shouldn’t have. It’s disgraceful that pensioners can’t afford to heat their homes.

“I want to see help targeted to enable older people and those with disabilities to increase the energy efficiency of their homes and reduce their fuel bills.

“Standardised packages including a range of insulation, draught-proofing and window, heating and light replacement would help improve the energy efficiency of all homes in Reading”

“It should be simple maths: less energy wasted equals lower fuel bills, fewer excess winter deaths, less pollution and a greener Reading.”

Commenting on the debate, Gareth Epps said:

“We were able to hear from Liberal Democrats running councils in Newcastle and Cambridge, among other cities, on the work that can be done to make housing meet sustainability standards beyond Reading’s current dreams.

The revised building regulations could have been a trailblazer for greener housing in the UK. They are not. It is a missed opportunity and yet another example of Labour’s failure to deliver on the environment.”