Reading Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Councillors in Redlands Ward have welcomed the start of work to protect the lawns at Cintra Avenue, which have been subject to a series of incursions from travellers.

Reading Borough Council has said it expects the work will take several weeks to complete, and will include fencing, gating and width restrictions on the access road. The first section of fencing was installed on Wednesday (2nd July).

Cllr Kirsten Bayes met with local residents and officers from the Council’s Park Service on Tuesday, to make sure residents were happy with the proposed work and that the Council understood their concerns.

Kirsten said, “The Council needs to get the balance right between protecting the lawns while making it easy for residents to live their daily lives. Glenn, Daisy and I as Ward Councillors will make sure the Council listens to residents and does a good job.”

Cllr Daisy Benson who has campaigned for this work since April 2007 said, “It is pleasing to see the Council finally start work to protect the lawns at Cintra Avenue. This has been something we have been raising for more than a year. If only the Council had listened earlier, the problems with the repeated traveller incursions could have been avoided.”

Cllr Glenn Goodall added, “It is vital the work proceeds quickly.

Residents have told us how worried they are that the travellers could return. We need to have the fencing installed before another incursion is attempted. The Council must hurry up and get the job done.”