Looking Back In Anger

It's a year since we published the first inReading ezine in order to bring more in depth journalism and more video coverage to our town, complementing the excellent work done by our local journalists and bloggers. So we thought we'd have a look back at some of the major stories and update you on the most recent development.

Inevitably, many have become sagas that are still playing out in the pages of our local media, which you can follow via our newsfeed.

Reading FC

It's barely worth adding anything to the endless tale that is the slow and sad recent demise of our local football team.

Currently saved only by a residual transfer commission (paid when a former player is sold on), the club seems no closer to finding a new proprietor than it was a year ago after US investor Rob Couhig recently walked away.

In our February 24 edition we conjectured that the only real option was bankruptcy and rebuilding, and, unfortunately, this seems to now be an ever more realistic option.

Thames Valley League Beckons For Reading FC - February 2024 (inreading.co.uk)

Thames Water

Another endless saga is the situation with our water and sewage provider, the polluting, avoricious Thames Water. Our already dysfunctional new Labour government seem to have bottled it when it comes to nationalising the company so far, but with no one else willing to stump up any money now that the music has stopped, it looks like we, the customers, will end up paying the bill for all those dividends that have been paid down the years to Canadian teachers and Australian private equity types. yet, at the same time OFWAT has just fined the company £56.8m as they seek to refinance.

There seems to be a sense of inevitability that bankruptcy is the only way this situation will eventually resolve itself. In the meantime service levels will continue to fall and the sewage will continue to rise...

Thames Water - The Perfect Storm - February 2024 (inreading.co.uk)

Pubs Closing

The sad trend of pubs closing in East Reading seems to have slowed down, but only because there are so few left. It has been good to see The Rising Sun open, albeit on the other side of the town centre and The Fisherman's Cottage, The Retreat and The Lyndhurst still open. However, the latest closure is The Traveller's Rest, one of the last two pubs left in Lower Caversham.

Is Time Called For The Pubs Of East Reading ? - December 2023 (inreading.co.uk)

Reading Jail

This other endless saga seemed to come to a head earlier this year with the purchase of the site by a Chinese 'foundation'. See our article above for an update.

Transport

In a recent feature we covered the town's very fragmented transport policy.After two nasty accidents Thames Valley police have finally decided to take action against illegal e-scooters and e-bikes.

Here is the press release from the office of the Police Commissioner for the Thames Valley in full:

"It is illegal to ride a privately owned electric scooter in public spaces, including on the road. Those who are found to be riding privately owned e-scooters in public risk receiving a large fine, points on their driving licence and seizure of their e-scooter."

To be legal, an e-bike has to comply with legislation and the rider must be over the age of 14, for more details on this go to Electric bikes: licensing, tax and insurance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Since 1 June this year, Thames Valley Police seized 118 e-scooters and e-bikes, with 21 of these seizures occurring since the beginning of September.

Officers often receive complaints from members of the public around the misuse of these vehicles, due to riders driving carelessly and at excessive speeds. This causes significant risks to both the rider and pedestrians, as well as others using the road network or footpaths.

Unfortunately, over the past couple of weeks we have seen two serious incidents involving e-scooters in the Thames Valley, demonstrating why tackling this issue is so important.

There was an incident on Binfield Road, Bracknell on Sunday 1 September, where a boy in his teens sustained serious injuries. Whilst riding his e-scooter he swerved to avoid the opening door of a parked van and collided with a lamppost.

There was also an incident at the junction of Avebury Boulevard and Witan Gate, Milton Keynes on Friday 6 September, where a woman in her sixties was struck by someone riding an e-scooter and sustained serious head injuries.

Seizing vehicles is only one part of our response, there is also ongoing education work that neighbourhood officers do in schools and with parents to generate awareness that private e-scooters can only be used on private land, with the land owner’s permission, to try and prevent illegal use or to inform those thinking of buying one.

Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: “I share the concerns of many residents about the dangerous and reckless riding of e-bikes and e-scooters. I have asked the Chief Constable to increase enforcement activity, and I support the work of the Police to take illegal vehicles of any kind off the roads.

“Enforcement is important, but I also call on the government to tighten up the law on these vehicles.”

Community Policing Command Inspector Mike Darrah said: “Dangerous, illegal, and inappropriate use of both e-scooters and e-bikes poses serious risks in the community and is something the public continue to rightly raise to us as a concern.

“These stats highlight the progress we are making in dealing with this issue but as the incidents of the past couple of weeks in different areas of the force show, there is still a lot more work to do.

“Through both seizing vehicles that are being used illegally and continuing to educate people on the laws, preventing offences, our communities will be safer.” "

It remains to be seen how much impact this enforcement will have.