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project is financed by the LSC, SEEDA and
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LOCAL
NEWS
BERKSHIRE-WIDE
First Great Western to Invest £29m More
First Great Western has been in discussions with the Government after the poor service it has been providing. It currently sits at the bottom of a customer satisfaction league table and has recently come close to losing its franchise. The train operator has agreed to a £29m investment package to recruit additional drivers and guards and will be doubling its spending on refurbishing Thames Valley trains this year, including Reading to London, Newbury, Oxford and Gatwick. Compensation to passengers who have been delayed will increase by half next year, in addition to the doubling of compensation taking place this year.
500,000 more discounted tickets will available on popular routes from the start of April, there will be more information monitors at stations by December 2010 and £4m will be spent on customer service training for employees.
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly said the company’s level of cancellations was “unacceptable”, and that the First Great Western will be monitored to ensure it delivers against a Government-imposed plan to improve its service.
A statement from the operator said: "FGW acknowledges that its performance has fallen short of its own standards and the expectations of passengers. FGW is committed to improving performance and taking the necessary action to ensure that cancellations and delays are minimised.”
Source: BBC Online; Reading Chronicle, various dates
South West Trains to Refurbish Fleet
South West trains has started to refurbish its fleet of 30 trains, that serve Wokingham, Winnersh, Bracknell, Ascot and Sunningdale. The refurbishment will include improvements to First Class seating and tables and improvements to disabled toilet facilities. CCTV will also be installed in every carriage to improve security. Trains running between Reading and London Waterloo and Guildford and Ascot are lined up for these improvements.
In addition, Bracknell Station will soon have a footbridge that is disability- and pushchair-friendly. Meanwhile at Wokingham station, work to extend the Reading-bound platform should start in the Autumn.
Source: icberkshire website, 20th February 2008
Group for Ethnic Businesses Expands
EMBAG (Ethnic Minorities Business Forum) is a support group to offer help and advice to ethnic minority businesses in Berkshire. The group was set up in 2004 to increase the number of ethnic businesses using Business Link services. However with the influx of new eastern Europeans to the area, EMBAG has expanded its team and has relaunched, wanting to become an essential element for minority enterprises, rather than just giving advice. An event to relaunch the group was held at Sardar Palace in Reading.
Help available for companies includes: showing them what grants are available, finding finance, offering support to start up businesses with business plans, helping micro businesses to grow, succession planning and exit strategies. Help is available for companies that have up to 250 staff.
For further information about the support group, contact the Head of Economic and Business Development at Business Link, Ganesh Selvarajah on 01753 610006
Source: icberkshire website, 21st February 2008
Domestic Violence Charity Launched In Thames Valley
The National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) has now launched a service for the victims of domestic violence in the Thames Valley. The charity offers a free legal advice service to get cases to court within one working day after they have been contacted. The charity aims to form good working relationships with solicitors in the area.
Source: Newbury Today, 15th February 2008
2012 Olympic Games Business ‘Dating Agency’ Berkshire Launch
A business ‘dating agency’ has been setup by the LDA in partnership with London 2012 and London Business Network. A launch event for the service for the South East region was held on 20th February at the Reading Madejski Stadium. Over 400 businesses from the South East attended the event, which was co-hosted by SEEDA and Business Link.
The initiative, known as CompeteFor aims to support all sizes of business to bid for opportunities by matching companies with London 2012’s supply needs. There will be an estimated 75,000 opportunities for businesses generated by the Olympics, with £6 billion worth of work to be allocated by London Organising Committee (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). Businesses need to register to be able to apply for contracts, and Competefor will also match firms with local Business Links to offer them support services designed to improve their competitiveness in the long run. Click here to go through to our website for further details.
Source: SEEDA website, London 2012 and LDA websites, various dates
Yell to Relocate
Yell, the directory business, will be relocating all its staff in Reading and Slough to the new One Reading Central building in Forbury Road. The company will take 153,500 sq. ft on 8 floors of the 11 storey building. Once the building is complete, early in 2010, all 1300 of Yell’s staff in Reading will move to the new building, along with 50 employees from its office in Slough. The company mapped its employee’s postcodes to ensure their journey times were kept to a minimum.
The new building includes renewable energy systems and environment-friendly infrastructure systems to reduce its carbon footprint.
Source: Reading Chronicle, 29th February 2008
Group for Ethnic Businesses Expands
EMBAG (Ethnic Minorities Business Forum) is a support group to offer help and advice to ethnic minority businesses in Berkshire. The group was set up in 2004 to increase the number of ethnic businesses using Business Link services. However with the influx of new eastern Europeans to the area, EMBAG has expanded its team and has relaunched, wanting to become an essential element for minority enterprises, rather than just giving advice. An event to relaunch the group was held at Sardar Palace in Reading.
Help available for companies includes: showing them what grants are available, finding finance, offering support to start up businesses with business plans, helping micro businesses to grow, succession planning and exit strategies. Help is available for companies that have up to 250 staff.
For further information about the support group, contact the Head of Economic and Business Development at Business Link, Ganesh Selvarajah on 01753 610006
Source: icberkshire website, 21st February 2008
Caversham Library Now Refreshed
Caversham Library recently reopened after a refurbishment involving new decoration, carpets and shelving. An extra computer has been added, giving people access to four PCs overall. It is the 100th anniversary year of the library, which offers activities for children as well as books, CDs, cassettes and DVDs. Activities for under fives include a sing-along on Tuesday mornings and story time on Thurday afternoons.
Source: icberkshire website, 21st February 2008
Academy Design Team Wins Award
The consultants, Buro Four, that oversaw the way the John Madejski Academy was designed and built has been named as Best Specialist Supplier in the British Council for School Environments’ (BCSE) awards. The Academy replaced Thamesbridge College and was built between November 2005 and February 2006, with £2 million contributed by John Madejski and £25 million of Government money. BCSE is a membership organisation whose members include local authorities, construction companies, architects and schools.
The BCSE is a membership organisation made up of schools, local authorities, construction companies, architects and all those involved in and passionate about designing learning environments.
Ty Goddard, BCSE director, said: “The John Madejski Academy shows that the right investment and approach can produce fantastic projects which we can be proud of and all learn from.”
Source: Reading Chronicle, 12th February 2008
Over 360 Jobs to Go at Scottish and Newcastle
Scottish and Newcastle has announced that it will close Berkshire Brewery in 2010. 362 employees at the site will be affected. The company will save money if all brewing and packaging is transferred to Tadcaster, Manchester and Gateshead.
Scottish and Newcastle have said that they will make “every effort to seek alternative employment for those affected, including re-training and redeployment” and will work closely with local agencies to ensure the impact on the economy and community is minimised.”
Employees are being consulted about the phased closure of the brewery.
Source: icberkshire website, 14th February 2008
Explosives Testing at AWE is Approved
West Berkshire Council has unanimously approved the proposal for the Aldermaston atom base in spite of the concerns of anti-nuclear campaigners. The plans include replacing a high explosives fabrication facility at the Aldermaston site, as well as building a new access road and eight lightning conductors.
The Ministry of Defence intends to replace several existing buildings and construct two new units on the site. The new buildings will be designed to let scientists test high explosives. However, exact details have not been supplied about the materials involved for reasons of national security. The building works should take two years.
Managers from AWE assured the planning committee that the building would be regulated by the Environment Agency, the MoD’s ordinance safety group and the Health and Safety Executive’s explosives inspectorate.
Source: Reading Chronicle; Newbury Today, various dates
Fewer Bracknell Forest and Wokingham Students Play Truant
DCSF’s statistics about absences from school, show that for both primary and secondary schools in Bracknell Forest and Wokingham the numbers of persistent and unauthorised absences have fallen.
Cllr Norman Jorgensen, the Wokingham borough children’s services leader, said: “The borough council remains committed to reducing absence from school and will not tolerate persistent and unauthorised absences.”
He said the council closely monitored the attendance rate at schools.
Cllr Alan Kendall, the education leader for Bracknell Forest said he was pleased the council was bucking the national trend.
Source: Bracknell News, 28th February 2008
EBP Supports Pupils from Education to Work
East Berkshire education business partnership (EBebp) is a not-for-profit organisation that offers a bridge between Bracknell’s business and schools in the area.
Managing director Sandra Wooledge said: “It’s a brokerage between education and business which supports the schools with a work-related curriculum. It’s all about giving pupils an understanding of the world of work when they leave school.”
The partnership works with children aged five to 19, focusing mainly on secondary school students, and on maths and science. It offers support and advice to businesses that want to get involved with schools but do not know how to. The EBP runs workshops in schools, and arranges work experience for students with local businesses. They are also encouraging local businesses to provide staff to give mock interview sessions for young people in schools to give them tips on how to approach interviews.
During March, EBebp is running a Year 5 school maths challenge sponsored by 3M. The challenge involves teams of students working out the answers to questions set by Bracknell Forest primary school maths advisor, Becky Teale. 8 finalists will then compete to win at 3M’s headquarters. There will be a presentation evening on March 26th.
Source: Bracknell News, 7th March 2008
South West Trains to Refurbish Fleet
South West trains has started to refurbish its fleet of 30 trains, that serve Wokingham, Winnersh, Bracknell, Ascot and Sunningdale. The refurbishment will include improvements to First Class seating and tables and improvements to disabled toilet facilities. CCTV will also be installed in every carriage to improve security. Trains running between Reading and London Waterloo and Guildford and Ascot are lined up for these improvements.
In addition, Bracknell Station will soon have a footbridge that is disability- and pushchair-friendly. Meanwhile at Wokingham station, work to extend the Reading-bound platform should start in the Autumn.
Source: icberkshire website, 20th February 2008
Bereavement Charity Receives Mystery Donation
Cruse Bereavement Care’s Bracknell office has received a donation of £10,000 from an unknown businessman in response to a funding appeal made on regional television. In order to train and fund 150 volunteers across south east Berkshire, north Hampshire and north Surrey the charity needs £60,000. Last year the charity helped 500 people in the area, 90% of them were via GP referrals.
Cruse is continuing to appeal to Bracknell businesses for funds, and can offer courses to train HR staff in bereavement counselling.
Source: icberkshire website, 14th February 2008
Bracknell Forest Borough Council Transfers Housing
Bracknell Forest Borough Council has now transferred its social housing stock to Bracknell Forest Homes. 5,600 homes have been transferred to the housing association. Last year 76% of tenants voted in favour of the transfer.
Dermot McRoberts, chairman of the Bracknell Forest Homes management board, said: “The only way we can convince people we are right for the job is by delivering. We’re quite clear we want to be an honest and open organisation and we’re not going to promise what we can’t deliver – that’s the only way we can gain their respect.”
Source: icberkshire website, 14th February 2008
Fewer Bracknell Forest and Wokingham Students Play Truant
DCSF’s statistics about absences from school, show that for both primary and secondary schools in Bracknell Forest and Wokingham the numbers of persistent and unauthorised absences have fallen.
Cllr Norman Jorgensen, the Wokingham borough children’s services leader, said: “The borough council remains committed to reducing absence from school and will not tolerate persistent and unauthorised absences.”
He said the council closely monitored the attendance rate at schools.
Cllr Alan Kendall, the education leader for Bracknell Forest said he was pleased the council was bucking the national trend.
Source: Bracknell News, 28th February 2008
South West Trains to Refurbish Fleet
South West trains has started to refurbish its fleet of 30 trains, that serve Wokingham, Winnersh, Bracknell, Ascot and Sunningdale. The refurbishment will include improvements to First Class seating and tables and improvements to disabled toilet facilities. CCTV will also be installed in every carriage to improve security. Trains running between Reading and London Waterloo and Guildford and Ascot are lined up for these improvements.
In addition, Bracknell Station will soon have a footbridge that is disability- and pushchair-friendly. Meanwhile at Wokingham station, work to extend the Reading-bound platform should start in the Autumn.
Source: icberkshire website, 20th February 2008
Wokingham Council Leader Will Step Down
The leader of Wokingham Borough Council, Frank Browne, is planning to stand down at the May elections. He has led the council over the last six years and he believes that Wokingham has a “very talented’ pool of councillors from which a new leader can be elected.
Source: Reading Chronicle, 22nd February 2008
A Third of a Million Pounds in Voluntary Grants Decided
Wokingham Borough Council has allocated £344,550 grants to voluntary organisations in the Borough, an increase of £20,000 on the year before. Citizens Advice Bureau received the largest single grant of £174,000. Other large grants were Voluntary Action Wokingham Borough (£54,945) and Just Around the Corner drug and alcohol awareness service (£10,800).
A further £2.2million will also be available for organisations offering specialist services. This includes Government funds for groups helping to meet the Borough’s priorities, £77,000 in business-rate relief, and £12,000 of help-in-kind, such as using council property for free. In addition, £27,000 is going to youth and community groups to help with costs for facilities.
Source: Reading Chronicle, 21st February 2008
Rise in Budget to Cost tenants
Wokingham Borough Council has voted to accept a budget that includes a record £131 million in capital schemes (including schools) alone over the next three years. However, domestic rents will increase by 6.74% and garage rents by 5% from the first week in April. In the coming financial year, the main priority will be education, with £128m allocated to children’s services, including £86m for schools.
More than £32m will be spent on community care services, with £18m budgeted for environmental services, including highway maintenance.
Source: Bracknell News, 28th February 2008
Wokingham to Get Full-time Firefighters
£180,000 has been set aside to expand Wokingham fire station. Currently, the station has four retained firefighters, which will soon expand to seven. After the building works on the station are complete there will be 11 full-time fire officers. The expansion of the building is due to start in July, and there will be a new temporary building on the first station site for storage space and offices.
Source: icberkshire website, 21st February 2008
Plans for 230 New Flats
There are plans to build 230 flats near Wokingham town centre, at the junction of Molly Millars Lane and Ashville Way. CALA Homes (South) Ltd is proposing to build 178 two-bedroom flats, 54 one-bedroom flats and 59 affordable flats. Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee has recommended that the scheme be approved, and it is now being referred to the Government Office for the South East for final approval. Some residents in the area have objected to the scheme as they are worried about increased traffic levels, and the potential risk of flooding.
Source: icberkshire website, 14th February 2008
Wokingham Station Improvements
Network Rail is planning to make upgrades to Wokingham station by September 2008. Over the summer months, the £2m worth of work extending the Reading-bound platform and improving signalling, should be completed. The station may also get further funds to improve its facilities from the National Stations Improvement Programme (NSIP). Under this scheme, the station may have more improvements made between 2009 and 2014.
Source: icberkshire website, 14th February 2008
Connexions Centre Relocates
In March the Connexions Centre was relocated to make space for the Park Way development in Newbury. The new centre is at Mill Reef House in Cheap Street.
Team leader, Jo Laybourn, said: “The new Connexions centre will be close to the train and bus stations, which will make it easier for young people to access. It’ll also be bigger than our current centre, which will be better for staff and centre users alike.”
Source: Newbury Today, 8th February 2008
Drop-in to Close
Thatcham Children’s Centre has ended its daily drop-in service for children and their carers. The charity’s trustees have come to the conclusion that the drop-in facility is no longer as effective as it was. In place of the drop-in the charity is planning a new range of services, working with local organisations and groups.
The Children's Centre is now seeking people and groups who want to run activities and use the facilities for the benefit of children and carers in the local community. For further information call Mr Potter on 07780 604344 or e-mail secretary@thatchamchildrenscentre.org
Source: Newbury Today, 27th February 2008
Children to Start School Younger
West Berkshire Council is proposing to standardise the age at which children will start school in the district, so that some may be just over four years old. All children entering Reception Class from 2009 will have their first day in September. Councillors say that educational research has shown that children do better when they start school together and get the same amount of time in class.
Source: Newbury Today, 15th February 2008
Councillors Approved St Barts Development
West Berkshire Council’s Western Area Planning Committee have approved plans for a multi-million pound rebuild of St Bartholomew’s school. The Government will give a grant to develop the school so that buildings are connected by a covered courtyard and a new floodlit multi-use games area and synthetic sports pitch will be built. Some concern has been expressed by residents about the floodlighting, so permission has been granted with the condition that the floodlights should be turned off at 9pm.
Source: Newbury Today, 15th February 2008
Calcot Private Railway Station to Go Ahead
West Berkshire Council has approved plans for a private railway station to be built in southern Calcot. PRUPIM will build the railway station on Kirtons Farm Road on the Reading to Basingstoke line, for use by people working on the Green Park business park. Reading Borough Council and the Government had already given the scheme the go ahead last year.
Source: Newbury Today, 4th February 2008
More Housing Mooted for Tilehurst
One of Tilehurst’s last pieces of green land may be built on. West Berkshire Council has identified land around Turnhams Farm as a potential site for development, as part of its remit to build thousands of new homes. Land around Newbury and its surrounding villages may also be potential sites for building.
Source: Newbury Today, 26th February 2008
Explosives Testing at AWE is Approved
West Berkshire Council has unanimously approved the proposal for the Aldermaston atom base in spite of the concerns of anti-nuclear campaigners. The plans include replacing a high explosives fabrication facility at the Aldermaston site, as well as building a new access road and eight lightning conductors.
The Ministry of Defence intends to replace several existing buildings and construct two new units on the site. The new buildings will be designed to let scientists test high explosives. However, exact details have not been supplied about the materials involved for reasons of national security. The building works should take two years.
Managers from AWE assured the planning committee that the building would be regulated by the Environment Agency, the MoD’s ordinance safety group and the Health and Safety Executive’s explosives inspectorate.
Source: Reading Chronicle; Newbury Today, various dates
Royal Borough Pupils in Top 10
Fourteen year old students at the Royal Borough’s schools have been ranked in the top ten nationwide in the Key Stage 3 league tables. Schools in the Borough were rated third highest for science, fourth highest in English and ninth in Maths.
83% of students were Level 5 or above in English (9% above the national average of 74%). 82% of pupils were Level 5 or above in Science (also 9% above the national average); and 82% of students were at Level 5 or above in maths (8% above the national average).
Source: Maidenhead Advertiser, 29th February 2008
Chamber of Commerce Has New President
Peter Evans has become the new President of the Maidenhead and District Chamber of Commerce, picking up the reins from the previous president Kuldeep Ahir. The Chamber represents 400 local businesses. Eddie Pearce became deputy president, Mike Miller became vice president and Mike Walker became deputy vice president.
Source: Maidenhead Advertiser, 29th February 2008
Arts Bursary Scheme for Young People
Young people under 25 are being offered funds under the Royal Borough’s arts bursary initiative. The bursaries are for a variety of activities including dance and theatre, photography, music, ceramics, sculpture, painting, film and video making. To get the bursary, applicants will give evidence of their work to an assessment panel, with a two minute presentation of their work on audio tape, CD, video or a portfolio with ten pieces of work. The closing date for applications is 24th April. The awards will be given in the Autumn.
Source: Maidenhead Advertiser, 25th February 2008
Women in Business Event
At the start of March, three groups supporting women in business came together to celebrate International Women’s Day. Maidenhead-based The Success Network for Women in Business came together with the Thames Valley Business Women’s Group and Ladies Who Latte to organise an event called ‘Networking and Working Together for Success’. The event was held at Sonning Golf Club in Reading.
The aim of the event was to inspire and empower women in business. There were several women entrepreneurs speaking from their knowledge of achieving success. The Success Network offers teleclasses and workshops to support women in business. For more information, visit http://www.successnetwork.org.uk/workshops.htm or email info@successnetwork.org.uk
Source: Maidenhead Advertiser, 20th February 2008
Maidenhead Station to Get £1m Improvements
First Great Western has set aside £1m to refurbish Maidenhead station. Planned improvements include a bigger ticket hall, improved subways and gateways, lighting and flooring upgrades and a platform extension.
Source: Maidenhead Advertiser, 20th February 2008
Population Growth Affects Schools
The Royal Borough Council is considering increasing student numbers at five schools. Over the next five years, 300 additional children are forecast to need first school places. Proposals under consideration include Dedworth Green First School to increase its intake to 45 from 30 places, Alexander First to 45 from 24, Oakfield First to 60 from 45, Clewer Green First to 45 from 38, and Royal First to 30 from 20. The schools are being consulted first because their sites are large enough to take the additional pupils.
The expansion in pupil numbers is due to the Government’s requirement for new housing in the Borough, and the Council is also considering allowing children to start school before five. The consultation is ongoing until April 4th.
Source: icberkshire website, 15th February 2008
Plan to Increase Support for Migrant Children
Slough Borough Council is planning to extend the support it gives to migrant children through specialist centres. There is currently one specialist centre at Beechwood School to assess the social and educational needs of migrant children over 11 before they start school in the UK. The Council now want to set up two similar centres for younger children, at a cost of several hundred thousand pounds.
Source: BBC Online, 26th February 2008
Investigation into Overcrowded Tenancies
Slough Borough Council has launched a survey to look at houses of multiple occupation (HMO) in the city. Some landlords are said to be crowding as many as 50 people into small properties. A recent report in the Slough Express had found that up to 15 people may have to sleep ‘in shifts’ on kitchen floors.
Slough’s housing commissioner Tony Haines said: “HMOs, if they comply to the right standards, are a great way for groups of people, such as students, or people starting on the career ladder, to live together relatively cheaply.
“However, there are many landlords out there who take advantage of people who are in need of accommodation quickly, or new people to the country, and offer very poor and unsafe living conditions.”
Source: icberkshire website, 15th February 2008
Housing to be Built on Site of Town Hall
Slough’s Town Hall, dating back to 1937 is to be demolished and new housing will be built on the site. The Council decided to sell the site and invest the money from the sale in improving facilities across the town.
Source: icberkshire website, 15th February 2008
Healthy Eating Event in Slough
As part of an overall strategy to tackle obesity in the South East, an event about healthy eating has been held for health, school and childcare professionals looking at the importance of a healthy start in life. Recent statistics show that one in seven children in the South East is obese. 22.1% of adults are obese and two thirds of adults in the region are overweight.
The South East's Regional Obesity Programme Lead Pamela Naylor said: "We know it is vital to lay firm foundations for good nutrition starting from conception. These workshops are helping to encourage people living in the region to recognise the importance of a good diet in childhood. If the epidemic of unhealthy weight gain is allowed to continue the result will be increased levels of heart disease, cancer, stroke and arthritis and shortened life expectancy. "
Berkshire East PCT have a Smiling for Life award open to all early years providers encouraging healthy eating. Primary schools across East Berkshire also take part in Food Awareness Week annually to help children learn about a balanced diet, preparing healthy lunch boxes and snacks and trying new and innovative games and sport.
For further details about healthy eating and tackling obesity, see the South East Public Health Observatory at http://www.sepho.org.uk
Source: GNN, 22nd February 2008
Yell to Relocate
Yell, the directory business, will be relocating all its staff in Reading and Slough to the new One Reading Central building in Forbury Road. The company will take 153,500 sq. ft on 8 floors of the 11 storey building. Once the building is complete, early in 2010, all 1300 of Yell’s staff in Reading will move to the new building, along with 50 employees from its office in Slough. The company mapped its employee’s postcodes to ensure their journey times were kept to a minimum.
The new building includes renewable energy systems and environment-friendly infrastructure systems to reduce its carbon footprint.
Source: Reading Chronicle, 29th February 2008
