           |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
 |
|||||||||
|
Reading Enews – May 2008 Political control of Reading Borough Council The political make-up of the Council following this year's election is as follows: Labour: 20 The Council has therefore moved to ‘no overall control’. The political administration will not be agreed until the Annual General Meeting of the Council on 20 May. Bio-ethanol buses Reading has taken delivery of its first bio-ethanol bus as the town begins rolling out a fleet of new `green' buses that will reduce carbon emissions. Over the coming weeks a further 13 bio-ethanol powered buses will be used on Premier Route 17 – Reading's best used bus service that serves six million passengers every year. Reading will be the first area in the UK to introduce such a large fleet of buses using the low carbon, low emission fuel. The buses are powered by sugar beet waste, which is grown in the UK on existing farmland and thus has no impact on agricultural land currently used for food production, as the material used to produce it is a waste product. This joint Reading Borough Council and Reading Buses initiative aims to cut carbon dioxide levels along the route and improve general air quality through the reduction of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions. Once in operation, passengers boarding the specially-branded number 17 buses can do so in the knowledge they are riding not only the `greenest' buses in Reading, but on one of the most environmentally-friendly buses in the country. Stockholm introduced a bus fleet using bio-ethanol fuel 10 years ago and now only bio-ethanol buses are used in its central area. The use of the environmentally friendly buses has reduced overall emissions in the city by more than 9%. A bio-ethanol fuel station within Reading Bus Depot at Great Knollys Street has also been introduced as part of the scheme, and the supply contract will guarantee the availability of bio-ethanol fuel to supply the entire bus fleet for the next 10 years, with an option for a further 10. Nighttrack Service From 26 May the Nighttrack service will be re-cast to make allowance for the 24 hour Route 17. From then on there will be twice as many night buses as now and the price will be halved – anyone with a valid daytime ticket such as a ‘busabout’ or ‘weekly’ can travel for half price (£1) on Nighttrack. New leaflets for No 17 and Nighttrack will be available soon. Another new bus service started on 21 April - the Kennet Island Shuttle - Route 40. This service is pump primed with developers’ S106 contributions and is a temporary service during construction work. It is running every half hour Mon – Sat (from 7am – 7pm Mon – Fri and from 8am – 7pm Sat). Leaflets are available at the Travel Centre Broad St Mall 7 the Civic Centre, and are being distributed to all homes at Kennet Island. Planning The application to change the use of 106 Friar Street from A1 (shops) to A3 (restaurants and cafes) has been granted (February’s enews refers). The erection of a new four and five storey building (plus basement) to provide approximately 13,183 sq m of office and ancillary floor space to accommodate a new Civic Headquarters for Reading Borough Council has been submitted for land at the corner of St. Mary's Butts/Hosier Street. Retail Broad Street Mall Game City has taken a 10 year lease on 48 BSM and intends to commence fit out soon. Betster has received their gaming licence and will commence the fit out of 27 Oxford Road during May. The Oracle The Oracle’s GREEN event runs until 4 May – to promote green issues and engage the public in educating to change. This will include information and education on environmental issues as well as a free Oracle ‘bag for life’. The Body Shop has opened and is now trading opposite Boots. L’Occitane has advertised for staff and is due to occupy the old Photo Optix unit on Town Mall Walk opposite Hotel Chocolat. G4 is now in Administration. Morgan will be moving to the unit next to Brother 2 Brother on Town Mall Walk and re-branding as Paper Sun. The vacated Morgan unit is under offer and an announcement on this will be released shortly. Inward investment iBAHN (trading as STSN UK Ltd) has signed a new five year lease on Unit 2, Bennet Court at a rent of £18 per sq ft. The new tenant is an international technology company specialising in secure wired and wireless broadband services to hoteliers and meeting organisers. iBAHN previously occupied serviced office space at GreenPark but moved to Bennet Court to support business expansion. The company joins Pell Frischmann and Semplice Energy, who have both signed leases at Bennet Court within the last 12 months, completing the line-up of tenants on the estate. A new ten year lease has been taken on Unit 33, Suttons Business Park by SAS International, a world leader in the design and manufacture of metal ceiling systems. The unit, which totals 25,000 sq ft, has been completely refurbished, allowing SAS International to expand on the Park. A rent of £8.50 per sq ft was agreed. Connect Reading Forum – 21 May Sign up today for the next Forum from Connect Reading on Wednesday 21 May from 8am - 10.30am at 'The Waterfront', Oracle Corporation, on Thames Valley Park. Our speakers will be discussing Absentee Management, the Healthy Workplace Challenge, how to support carers in the workforce and how to implement green travel plans. Join us for breakfast - to book your fee place contact manager@connectreading.co.uk The Reading Job & Learning Fair – 23 May Are you looking to recruit new staff...? Over 1000 members of the public visited last year’s Job & Learning Fairs. The next Reading Job & Learning Fair organised by New Directions, Reading Borough Council, Nextstep Berkshire and Graft will take place between 10.30 and 18.00 on 23 May at Novotel Hotel, Friar Street. An exhibit space costs just £120. This fee helps to support funding for publicity of the event, which will be widely promoted across Reading. For further information or to book your exhibit stand, call Chris Brant on 07738 916 539 or email chris.brant@reading.gov.uk Reading Credit Union Reading Credit Union will be out and about this spring and summer at family events taking place around Reading. With fun games for all ages and a special incentive for all new members joining on the day, the Reading Credit Union Roadshow is an ideal chance to find out what’s on offer to everyone who lives or works in Reading. Visitors to the Reading Credit Union tent can take part in our free egg and spoon race, or have a go at the big ‘noughts and crosses’ game, as well as accessing information and advice about the benefits of Credit Union membership. What’s more, everyone who joins the Credit Union at one of these events and saves regularly for six months will receive an extra £5 in their savings account! Look out for the Reading Credit Union tent at these events - Monday 5 May
– Waterloo Meadows Fun Day, 2-4pm Saturday 10 May – Meadow Madness at Christchurch Meadows Sunday 18 May – East Reading Festival, Palmer Park, 12-4pm Saturday 14 June
– Tilehurst Fun Day, Victoria Rec, 12-4pm Saturday 28 June – Oxford Road Fun Day, Kensington Park 12-4pm Saturday 12 July
– Rabsons Rec Fun Day, 12-4pm Reading Credit Union is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority: 4 The Chambers, East Street, Reading RG1 4JF; 0118 958 5803; info@readingcreditunion.co.uk http://www.readingcreditunion.co.uk Reading Children’s Festival Saturday
10 May – Sunday 3 June A three week festival of activities, fun, entertainment and workshops for kids of all ages at venues across Reading. Highlights include: Meadow Madness Saturday
10 May, 11am – 4pm The perfect riverside setting for a day packed full of family fun. Attractions on the day include circus workshops and performers, arts and crafts workshops, American Football demonstrations as well as information stands, competitions, face painters and balloon modelling. Free entry. Town Centre Day Friday 30 May, 11am – 4pm The town centre’s streets and stores come alive with entertainment on the Friday of half term. Enjoy a touch of the traditional with Punch and Judy shows, see the Bash Street Bobbies - stilt walking policemen and catch one of Jason Maverick’s fantastic street shows. There will be plenty on offer in the shops too, with many retailers offering freebies and discounts for children. Free entry. Forbury Fever Forbury
Gardens, 11am - 3pm This local event is Reading’s very own celebration of World Environment Day. Come along and find out about all things green. There are also loads on offer for the kids - teddy bears’ picnic and storytelling, circus skills workshops and face painting. Free entry. Full details of these events and more Children’s Festival events can be found on the What’s On pages of www.reading.gov.uk or call 0118 939 0373. Corus Elite Series 2008 British Elite Sprint Triathlon Champs The best British triathletes will compete against an international field here in Reading - swimming 750m in open water, cycling 20k and then running 5k. There will also be a Novice Race for local triathletes before the Elite Races get underway at 11am. All are welcome to come and watch! Call 0118 939 0358 for more information. Tim Smith This newsletter
is for general information only. Whilst it is
believed to be |
Archive May 08 |
|||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
