A word in your shell, like
So, “you can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs” (Keep On Shopping, The Wokingham Paper, August 10).
Let’s hope that this is not a municipal euphemism for something more sinister as the council sets out to metamorphose a once-delightful, historic and quintessentially English market town with some kind of chic continental style “shoppers paradise” packed with piazzas, plazas, cafes, coffee shops and assorted other eateries (nothing new there then).
A green and pleasant land, free from congestion and roadworks, all achieved by breaking the aforementioned metaphoric eggs, designed to seduce residents and visitors alike into regenerating the town’s fortunes of yesteryear.
I, as do many others who have lived in and supported Wokingham for considerably more years than have a goodly number of our current councillors, hope their visions of the future materialise.
However, and whilst not wishing to rain on their parade – a word in their administrative shell likes – ne vous laissez pas berner par vos propres relations publiques, or as we Brits would say, don’t be fooled by your own public relations.
J W Blaney, Wokingham
We must support our market during regeneration
I am very concerned about the plight of our market traders who have, for obvious reasons, been relocated to various areas around Erftstadt Court and very few people seem to know they are there.
I live very close to that area and very often pass by on my way through the town but even I did not realise that apart from the two stalls which can be seen from Denmark Street, others are dispersed around the Court. For example the veg man is tucked away in a corner by the Citizens’ Advice bureau and two other stalls are located opposite the Gig House pub in the Plaza.
The traders are very concerned at their loss of business and some of them are saying that if trade does not pick up soon they will have to give up. They are suffering huge losses. No doubt the Council has not reduced their rents!
I would urge everyone to wander down Denmark Street and patronise these businesses before we lose them altogether.
Name and address supplied
How we got the news through Wokingham
(with apologies to Robert Browning)
He jumped in the Volvo with Maurice and me.
I buckled my seat-belt, we buckled all three,
then fired up the engine, demisted the screen,
and wiped the dashboard, where my coffee had been.
With road works denying its chance to deduce,
we knew that the Satnav would be of no use.
Arborfield, Coppid Beech and Twyford Road, too,
are building sites now, with new housing in view,
while old Denmark Street, which has long been one-way,
will be “No-Way, Jose”, for many a day.
The rat-run was tailed back on Evendons Lane,
with Blagrove Lane closed, just to add to the pain.
So which way to go to avoid the great jam
that is choking the traffic through Wokingham?
With the damned threeway lights on Finchampstead Road
confounding our progress, our journey was slowed.
For the first half an hour we moved at a crawl.
The next 15 minutes we moved not at all.
As we sat in the queue we found with dismay
it gets even worse on Veolia day.
At last we agreed, with sad resignation,
we could yet be hours from our destination
and as we’d set out without toothbrush or comb,
we turned round our motor and headed back home.
Tired and defeated, we pulled into my drive
and mugs of tea later, began to revive.
The news that we carried must now arrive late.
Those eager to hear it would ponder our fate.
So as that harsh journey our spirits had vexed,
we played Grand Theft Auto and sent them a text.
Alan Brown,
Wokingham Library Poetry Group
Underhand bank sale is reckless
The Tories have sneakily flogged off the Green Investment Bank under cover of Parliamentary recess.
Greens have long and vocally opposed the sale.
This latest underhand move is deeply irresponsible and shows contempt towards tackling climate change — one of the biggest challenges the world faces.
Through public ownership, the Green Investment Bank has helped fuel a transition towards a greener economy by funding some innovative low-carbon and renewable energy projects.
Flogging it off to the highest bidder is disastrous news for everyone who cares about the future of renewable energy.
It’s also a bad deal for the planet and a bad deal for taxpayers. In 2016, the GIB started to make a profit and, under public ownership, was due to deliver an annual return of 10%.
The Macquarie Group, which will now operate the Green Investment Bank under a new guise, has a worrying and dubious track record of asset stripping – and dismal environmental credentials.
As we grapple with soaring temperatures and a climate change denier in the White House we need to be investing in green energy, not sell off our future security to those more interested in making a quick buck.
This sale further jeopardises our chances of meeting our commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change. It’s a disgraceful, environmentally reckless, wasted opportunity and a kick in the teeth for taxpayers.
Keith Taylor
Green Party MEP for the South East
Fighting for mental health
Prime Minister – and local MP – Theresa May, like her predecessors, has made many pledges and promises to increase the early detection of mental health problems in the UK’s teens and pre-teens without increasing NHS child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) places, services and staff.
For example, here in Berkshire, only nine NHS CAMH places are commissioned for the entire Royal County, from the local NHS mental health trust – the same commissioning as in the 1990s. No NHS CAMH staff or services are commissioned at weekends and bank holidays, other than for those already hospitalised.
There are no NHS specialist/holistic help commissioned for the ever-increasing numbers, according to Thames Valley Police figures, of underaged victims of sexual abuses.
So this increasing of early CAMH intervention, thereby increasing demand for NHS CAMH services without increasing commissioning makes no sense – and Mrs May should be made aware of this by all of us living in Berkshire, if not across the entire country.
Paul Farmer, a long-term – and totally unsuccessful – NHS CAMH campaigner for at least adequate commissioning across Berkshire and Beyond
Name and shame abusers
Many Pakistanis, North African and Turkish origin continue to abuse white girls in England for fun and depravity: these men should be named and shamed throughout this country and the world.
Jeremy Corbyn should consider his position and stand down as Labour leader because he was wrong to sack Sarah Champion who spoke out. The Labour leader is not up to it he is a weak leader on rights and wrongs. This country is crying out for a strong leader and Corbyn is no good.
People should cheer Ms Champion for speaking out the truth – good on her.
Victor Rones, Advocate for real Justice and Rights no cover ups, Bracknell
Childhood obesity is a threat
Childhood obesity is one of the biggest health threats that the UK faces and a year on from the Government’s published childhood obesity strategy we are no closer to having a solution to the problem.
We agree with Cancer Research UK; more needs to be done. Today’s announcement on cracking down on calories in popular foods is something, but it’s not the whole picture.
What about the amount of physical activity our children are getting each day? The recommended amount is 60 minutes but just one in five achieve this.
The Obesity Strategy refers to the recently published Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. But this only commits to increasing the number of primary school children normally walking to school to 55%. Although an increase, it’s a small one. We want to see more ambitious targets around increasing everyday physical activity in our young children so that more are walking and learning vital lifetime healthy habits.
Steve Chambers, Policy & Research Coordinator, Living Streets
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