It's Tree-time!

For the first time in its history Reading Borough Council has pledged to provide an annual budget to pay for the relacement of dead and dying trees in residential roads in the borough.

Councillors are set to approve up to £200,000 over the initial two-year period after council officers responded to new guidance on the protection and management of trees in conservation areas and along green corridors.

Reading borough council has also encouraged residents to participate in its' consultation (click here) to provide information on areas where trees have been felled or are in need of replacement.

Labour's Cllr Tony Page commented on his 'delight' at changing policy,

"The funding is intended to be a starting point for identifying further resources and attracting external funding for a wider programme of tree replacement."

LibDems have celebrated their success in pushing for this measure after a two-year campaign against the Labour-run council. Cllr Daisy Benson wittily offers congratulations to those involved for forcing Labour to 'stump up' the cash.


Oranjepan says:
Homeowners will welcome the move to ensure trees are a more common sight - especially following the housing market crash, given that experts estimate they make an area more desirable and can add 10-15% to house prices compared to bare streets. As will environmental campaigners who encourage more greenery to combat street-level pollution and noise from traffic.

However it is unfortunate that RBC's consultation period is set to close today rather than have a standing contact as this only discourages public engagement and may mean a number of areas in need of help are overlooked.

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Related Reading: It's Tree O'Clock

Political Fight Over Play Areas

After nearly six months of work Reading East's Palmer Park and the adjoining adventure playground have been unveiled to the public following a £146,000 investment.

The improvements include giant boulders for scrambling, buddy swings, a rope-end swinger, a ground-level trampoline and open-air table tennis tables as well as innovative acoustic play equipment all aimed at encouraging 8-13 year olds out into the open to enjoy fresh air, exercise and a wide range of organised activites.

300 beech trees were planted by residents in December to form a hedge, while the seeding of a natural play area with wild plants will help spur appreciation for the natural environment.

£1m funding has been provided by the government over three years to Playbuilder which is being used pay for the refurbishment of over 20 play areas in the borough, while Marks & Spencer is donating the 1.85p profit it makes on it's 5p single-use carrier bags to the Groundwork environmental charit.

Alongside Palmer Park, Tilehurst's Robert Hewitt Recreation Ground, and the play areas in West Reading's Beresford Road and Longbarn Lane have also seen works started, while Reading East is set not to miss out as other areas lined up for improvements will include Mapledurham, Emmer Green, Meadway and Christchurch Meadows.

Reading's Lead Councillor for Children's Services Cllr John Ennis expressed his delight at the completion of the first project in the scheme, saying, "I'm sure generations of East Reading children will benefit enormously from it."

On his own blog Cllr John Ennis reprints the press release with an additional quote from his party colleague and Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport, Cllr Graeme Hoskin, who said, "This is another major milestone in our programme of improvements for play areas across Reading."

LibDem Park ward candidate Alex Kirke is delighted that the park's facelift and hopes he will be able to 'contain his inner child' now that it is reopened. He celebrates his good fortune to live so close to one of Reading's most beautiful parks, arguing that "It is a hub to the community and it is essential that continue to maintain and preserve it."

Meanwhile, just as several playareas are earmarked for improvements, Conservatives in Abbey ward are campaigning for the closure of a playarea in Denbigh Road.

Abbey Ward candidate Andrew Waters sent an open letter to complain about noise from late-night drinking alleging drug dealers use it to conduct their trade, arguing that the play area should be converted to gardens.

He pointed to a survey conducted by his party that 75% of resident are in favour of closure of the green space.

However the Bell Tower Residents Association conducted their own survey finding a majority of residents want to keep it open to the public and had written to the council to object to the proposed redevelopment of the plot.

De-sacre-ated

Reading councillor Cllr John Hartley has been kicked off a the council's SACRE advisory board for poor attendance.

The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education meets only three times per year to advise on religious education syllabus and acts of worship in the local authority schools, but Park ward's Cllr Hartley hasn't attended any in the past twelve months or excusing himself from attendance.

Cllr Hartley explained, "I wrote to the chairman apologising for not having sent my apologies," adding that he was happy to be updated by his party colleague Cllr Gul Khan.

Acting SACRE chairman Rabbi Zvi Solomons responded to Labour's Park lead councillor for education after the belatedly communication, saying the board now considered the position 'vacant and forfeit', adding that

"some councillors have the attitude towards religion and religious education that they don't take it as seriously as they should."

Scalp-hunters have been circling around Cllr Hartley for some time as evidence piles up of his attitude towards his official duties - he is also regularly ranked at the bottom of casework totals.

And Conservative Cllr Willis is noticably triumphant as he tries to score political points ahead of the vital local elections, describing how "further humiliation has been heaped on the tottering Labour minority administration."

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Background: Conservatives Call For Hartley's Head