TONY JONES
i Independent Councillor for Battle Ward, West Reading
"Considerable talents and ability" Martin Salter MP "Admired" Evening Post "The free thinking Councillor" Reading Chronicle
"This website has been designed to assist the people of Battle Ward and the Oxford Road Community to know more about my work on Reading Borough Council.
It also contains information on how to contact me.
I hope you find this site of help to you and welcome your feedback on how this can be made even more useful."
HARD WORKING COUNCILLOR
Don't just take our word for it. Here's what others say about Tony:
"Cllr Jones has campaigned tirelessly to clean up the Oxford Road and he is to be admired for that."
"Cllr Jones has always been at the forefront of the fight to lose the sleazy image attached to the Oxford Road and west Reading."
FUNNY OR WHAT?
For a lighter look at political life in Reading, try muckspReading
It's nothing to do with Tony, but it can be very funny !
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Or listen to:
TRAFFIC COMMISSION REPORT: IS THAT IT?
BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
COW LANE BRIDGES: RADICAL NEW PLANS EMERGE
FORUM WELCOMES SCHOOL PLACES REVIEW
NEW HEALTH CENTRE PLANS "DISAPPOINTING"
KERBSIDE GLASS COLLECTION PLAN MOVES NEARER
SCHOOL WINS MORE CASH TO GET WINDOWS FIXED
LAUNCH OF THE BATTLE COMMUNITY FORUM
HART STREET DRUG DEN CLOSED
CATHERINE STREET CRACK HOUSE CLOSED FOR GOOD
Other news - click to reach Campaign for a Pedestrian Bridge at Cow Lane to the River Thames TRAFFIC COMMISSION REPORT: IS THAT IT?
The long-awaited report recommends that the IDR plan is dumped. Other suggestions are that the council should work more closely with neighbouring councils - particularly to secure a third Thames bridge - consider introducing a road pricing scheme and ask central government for more funding, to support, amongst other things, the provision of more frequent buses. Commenting on the report Battle ward councillor Tony Jones said "Sadly the report doesn't tell us anything new and you have to wonder if it was worth it. But if nothing else, it finally spells the end of the idea for a one-way IDR." BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
Families and pupils through-out England are already benefitting from seeing schools modernised or completely new schools being built. When Battle Ward councillor Tony Jones raised the issue with the council's education department earlier in the year he was told that Reading Council was not due to bid for the extra cash until 2011. However, Cllr Jones further pressed the issue in the main spending scrutiny panel earlier this month, and now a report seeking to make an early bid is to be considered by the council's cabinet next week. (7 July) Tony Jones said "I'm delighted that the council is considering making an early bid. There's no doubt that secondary schools in Reading could do with a boost, with 35% of our pupils having to go to schools outside the borough. We need more places, possibly with new schools in the west, east and north to match the new academy in the south. Perhaps the independent review of school places could look at this too." COW LANE BRIDGES: RADICAL NEW PLANS EMERGE
It has emerged that the existing plans to close Cow Lane Bridges and run an Oxford Road by-pass road from Scours Lane to Richfield Avenue may be dumped in favour of expanding the existing bridges. Giving an initial response to the new plans, Battle Ward councillor Tony Jones said "That the cycle and pedestrian access from the Oxford Road area to the Thames riverside will be maintained and made safe must be welcome. However, raising the bridges may lead to greater noise pollution in the Salisbury Road area, so we will have to see how the plans will address these concerns. Not closing the Cow Lane Bridges to road traffic will also mean that Beresford Road may continue to be a very busy rat-run and the loss of the by-pass will mean that the Oxford Road will continue to be a congested cross-town route." (25 June) FORUM WELCOMES SCHOOL PLACES REVIEW
The Battle Community Forum was told that the council had agreed to appoint "an independent Chair with national expertise" to undertake a review and report back by this November. In April this year the council adopted "coordinated admissions arrangements for nursery, primary and secondary schools in Reading for the school year beginning in September 2009". However, it is clear that there are already insufficient places in the coming academic year. Some families in Battle ward are already facing the prospect of having to split brothers and sisters between different primary schools, while 35% of Reading pupils would be moving on to secondary schools outside the borough next September. Battle councillor Tony Jones said "It is clearly an unsatisfactory position when families have to juggle young children between schools or have to send older children outside the borough because they can't get places in Reading. I hope the independent chair will be able to offer clear advice and guidance to the council about a better way of organising admissions in the future." NEW HEALTH CENTRE PLANS "DISAPPOINTING"
Residents were told at the Battle Community Forum that building work would start on the new four storey centre opposite the new Tesco store on the Oxford Road next month. Health service director Joe Devanney described the new centre as a "unique health related facility which would become an integral part of the community". Two floors would be used to provide health and well being advice and support services - such as family support and parenting groups, breast feeding support and advice services for substance misuse and stop smoking support. Adult social services would take another floor. The local PALS service would also be moved there from offices in the Bath Road. The remaining third floor space had not been allocated a use, but could include room for walk-in health checks or physiotherapy. Many residents expressed their dismay and disappointment that there would be no GP services or other clinical services based at the new building. Services for the elderly had also been over-looked. Cllr Tony Jones said "This seems to be a million miles away from the integrated health centre we thought we had been promised three years ago and will come as a big disappointment to many residents." Mr Devanney agreed to return to the Forum in October to give a further update on developments. KERBSIDE GLASS COLLECTION PLAN MOVES NEARER
Councillor Tony Jones proposed the plan to collect glass bottles and jars at a council meeting on Tuesday night. "I would like to see a pilot programme in place by April 2009 to run in a limited number of wards, for example Battle, Caversham and Redlands.” Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors welcomed the opportunity to debate the idea and added that waste food collection could be included in the pilot scheme as well as glass. (4 June 2008) SCHOOL WINS MORE CASH TO GET WINDOWS FIXED
Commenting on the news, school governor Cllr Tony Jones said "At last the pleas of the school have been listened to. It would have been absurd to do half this year, take the scaffolding down, and then do the same again next year, with all the disruption that would have caused. I think the school head Karen Salter deserves a great deal of credit for getting this sorted out." Karen Salter said "I’m very pleased to say that we have finally secured the funding to repair and paint all of the windows at the front of the school. We love our listed building but have long felt that the condition of the windows has let us down, especially as we have worked so hard on maintaining and improving the inside of the school – by September this will no longer be the case, we can't wait". (3 June 2008) LAUNCH OF THE BATTLE COMMUNITY FORUM
What is sure to become a unique and influential forum, held it's first meeting on Wednesday, 11 June, at Battle Library, and was chaired by Cllr Tony Jones. Topics under the spotlight included:
and a new "Open Forum" spot. Battle Community Forum replaces the now defunct Oxford Road Community Forum and will give a sharper focus to issues in Battle ward. It should not be confused with the continuing Oxford Road Safer Community Forum. (Originally posted 23 May 2008)
Working with the local Neighbourhood Action Group, officers from Thames Valley Police have identified further areas for action. Cllr Tony Jones has welcomed the action saying "Local dealing can make it a nightmare for residents. We are sure that this latest round of action will have an impact. I've been impressed by the fresh commitment that Insp Andy Bellman is giving to this task." (29 May) CATHERINE STREET CRACK HOUSE CLOSED FOR GOOD
Battle ward Councillor Tony Jones was given the news by Reading Single Homeless Project Director Ian Caren at a meeting earlier today (Tuesday). Residents had feared that the hostel would reopen next month, when the court's closing order expired. But now RSHP has had a rethink and decided to vacate the property. Cllr Jones said "I have been impressed by the careful evaluation undertaken by Ian Caren. I know that local residents are relieved that this nightmare is now over." (27 May 08)
Campaign for a Pedestrian Bridge at Cow Lane to the River Thames
THE DRAFT plans for the modernised Reading Railway Station do not offer any pedestrian or cycle access at Cow Lane. Battle Councillor Tony Jones said "It would be a tavesty if local communities along the Oxford Road were cut off from the Thames Promenade area. It cannot be beyond the expertise of Network Rail to build a bridge to maintain these links." If you agree with Tony, please email him, so that he can add your name to the many who are already supporting this campaign. Drug Dealing: Police Target Hart Street and Stanley Grove area
Recent activity in the residential area has prompted the attention of the authorities in what has become a local crime hotspot. (20 May - updated above)
_____________________________________ Statement released on 8th May 2008 LEAVING LABOUR BOTH MY GRANDFATHERS were coal miners. So being part of the labour movement is almost part of my DNA. But I spent the early part of my life attending non-conformist chapels in South Wales, so for me “my party right or wrong” has never been the deal. Now, after 33 years of membership, I have left the Labour Party. Over a period of time I have lost all confidence in the leadership of the Labour Party, both nationally and here in Reading. My reasons are many, but I will highlight a few which have driven me to end the longest relationship I have had in my life, excepting that with my parents. Nationally, the failure to honour the manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the European Treaty was dressed up in patronising explanations about how different this was to a constitution because, for amongst other significant differences, the plans for an anthem had been dropped. We made a promise to the people. The disgraceful decision not to honour the independently adjudicated Police pay deal highlighted another breach of trust by this government. The ridiculous position of having to campaign to keep local Post Offices open as they are closed by a national government agency has been replicated all over the country. Of course community services cost money, but people are not “morons” and they see through this arms length hypocrisy. But most of all, I didn’t join the Labour Party to increase taxes for amongst the poorest in our community - even now Cabinet Ministers are claiming they have “dealt with” the 10p tax rate problem, which is not true - while the government can dither then find countless billions to bail out the failed bankers at Northern Rock, and MP’s argue for a £100,000 a year salary and freely enjoy the benefits of the John Lewis catalogue. In my view Gordon Brown is not capable of listening, learning or leading. If he was, he would have done so by now and we would not be in the mess we are in. Perhaps the more than 400 former Labour councillors across the country who lost their seats at the local elections are seen as expendable - it’s only when career MP’s see their livelihoods threatened things may change. Clearly, the voters will never learn to love Gordon Brown and he should go now. But just in case the demise of the Labour Council in Reading is blamed on national factors then consider the fact that on the same night that Labour lost control after 22 years, colleagues in Slough picked up 4 seats and took the mantle of being the only Labour controlled council in the South of England. No blaming the national government just a few miles down the M4. Locally I have become increasingly out of step with the leadership of the Labour group. David Sutton may have won plaudits for how Reading has changed. But if he cares to think about his last council meeting he will come to see that his political career has ended in ignominy. There are also differences in Battle ward. Who remembers “Education, education, education”? Yet we have near chaotic secondary school provision in Reading, Battle School back in special measures and Oxford Road School having to plead for extra cash to get their rotting windows replaced while the scaffolding is up with money only to replace the worst of them. Meanwhile a class room remains out of use. The promised new Health Centre as part of the deal for the redevelopment of the old Battle Hospital site is now being changed to some kind of watered down Well-Being Centre, with little or no clinical provision. The successful lottery bid to refurbish Battle Library is being mishandled, with plans having recently been cut back without any real public consultation. I resigned before the election but chose not to go public, so as to allow the election to take its course, without giving people the opportunity to say that I had either sabotaged or helped any particular candidate or party’s chances. But as the Reading Labour Group seems likely to retread the same paths as they have done over the past year or more, I can no longer stay. I now have two years to discover if there is room for an independent voice in local politics, or whether things inevitably must fall back to the national parties playing their pieces and the yah-boo pointlessness of most council meetings. I have never possessed the humility of my grandfathers, but I trust they would understand why I have taken this decision. Addendum: My thanks for the many messages of support I have received from Reading and beyond, including serving councillors and those who lost their seats, Labour Party members and those recently resigned. I will publish some extracts in due course. ___________________________________ COUNCIL TAX RISE KEPT BELOW INFLATION
Residents in Reading will pay a below inflation rise of 1.9% council tax in 2008/9. Battle Councillor Tony Jones said “With inflation running at 4.3% and other costs, such as fuel bills rising, it's good that the council tax has been kept at this low level." BACK THE POLICE - PAY THE FULL WAGE DEAL
NEWS THAT Home Office minister Jacqui Smith is set to ignore the independent arbitrator and cut the Police's wage deal to 1.9% has outraged Battle councillor Tony Jones. Tony Jones said "A fair increase had been set at 2.5%, but now the minister seems intent on delaying payment and devaluing the deal. How can we trust her on anything else? We rely on the police to do their best for us - I think the government should do the best by them in return". "Isn't it wrong that the deal is to be paid in full to the police officers in Gordon Brown's Scottish constituency, but not to those who guard him in Downing Street." said Cllr Jones. RETURN OF WEEKLY RUBBISH COLLECTIONS IS "COMMON SENSE"
THANKS to the support and efforts of local residents there has been a sharp rise in town’s recycling rates from 22% to 35%. However, as with every new scheme, issues or problems arise and the introduction of new bin collection arrangements was no different. In some streets the provision of bins has caused concerns and there are problems with wheeled bins and sacks being left on the pavement on non-collection days, as front gardens are too small to accommodate the bins. These can cause great inconvenience to pedestrians - particularly wheelchair users, people with visual impairment, or those with young children in prams or pushchairs. In order to alleviate this problem, landfill waste collection from some properties will only be collected if contained in a black sack. Recycling collections can still use the 55 litre box containers previously supplied by the council (but not red wheeled bins). Waste should be presented for collection weekly in sacks on the edge of the property no earlier than the evening before collection. Recycling collections will remain fortnightly. Collection days will remain the same. Hailing the move Battle councillor Tony Jones said "The reintroduction of weekly collections to some properties is common sense - I'm glad the council has listened and recognised that "a one size fits all" scheme was not appropriate".
£1.4 MILLION BIRTHDAY PRESENT! WEST READING will get a library fit for the 21st Century, thanks to a £1,469,808 cash boost from the National Lottery. The lottery fund has announced this week that Battle Library in Oxford Road will receive the money to transform the facility into a focal point at the heart of the community. The library was constructed in 1907 and is an important keystone building within Oxford Road and is celebrating it's 100th birthday this month. The funding means that new multi-functional community spaces will be created for baby clinics, a breastfeeding centre, sing-a-long sessions, new café, community art gallery exhibition space and a messy play area for youngsters. Battle Library will be adapted to also include a community and story telling wall and create more space for community events and meetings. New services in the new look library, will include a homework club, maths and science club, English classes, parenting classes, an IT based study support scheme for primary age children, children's art and craft sessions, health education displays and self-development classes. This will be done by areas within the library that are used as staff space, will be opened up into more flexible and public areas. A community garden will also be created as will a dedicated children's library area. Cllr Tony Jones, said: 'The lottery award is fantastic news. What better way to celebrate the 100th birthday of the library. The award is very well deserved and reflects the hard work of the manager and other staff, working together with the local community.' Work is due to start on Battle Library's revamp later this year, before the transformation is completed in Spring 2010. ANOTHER TESCO COMING TO THE OXFORD ROAD
RETAIL giant Tesco plans to open another branch less than a mile from its huge new Oxford Road supermarket. The UK’s largest supermarket chain wants to open a Tesco Express on the site of TransAuto in Oxford Road, just a stone’s throw from the Tesco Extra being built on the former Battle Hospital site. Tesco bought the site at 211 to 221 Oxford Road in May after approaching the owner of the garage. Tesco now own the freehold and have leased it back to garage for 12 months provisionally while they put through their planning applications and will extend the lease if they are not ready with their planning processes. Battle ward Councillor Tony Jones said he was “disappointed and disheartened” that another Tesco would be coming to the area. He said: “Tesco has a big trading influence and although I welcome the development of the superstore, I think there is a fear that Tesco could completely monopolise the local market. The bigger store is where people will go to do their weekly shop but a convenience store will be direct competition with the other convenience stores in that area and I am a bit disheartened that it happens to be Tesco.” CARS TRIPS DOWN, BUSES ON THE UP!
MORE AND MORE people are travelling into Reading every day by public transport, according to new figures. And the most dramatic changes over the past two years have been the rise in trips made on the buses and the decline of car use. WEEKDAY TRIPS INTO READING Totals in 2001 and 2007 Private Car - 38.2% and 32.9% Car & Motorbike totals - 38.6% & 33.3% Bus - 17.9% and 22.4% Bus & train totals - 32.9% and 36.8% Bus, train, cycling & walking - 61.4% & 65.8% Commenting on the report, Chair of Reading Buses Tony Jones said "The figures are very encouraging and the changes are there for all to see. The last two years has seen a real increase in the number of bus passenegers and we will work hard to ensure that the trend continues."
COW LANE allotment holders have been protesting against the impact of the Reading Station upgrade plans, which will see an Oxford Road by-pass road being built across thier rented plots. The scheme will bring major benefits to the quality of life of people in West Reading with a significant reduction of traffic and pollution along the Oxford Road as well as easing congestion and enabling major rail improvements. However, this will be disruptive to allotment holders, although the council will be reproviding lost allotment space within Reading and offering Cow Lane holders a number of alternatives, including new allotments at nearby Scours Lane. The council is determined to keep an open dialogue with the allotment holders, listen to their views and keep them informed of any plans as they develop and has already met with the allotment holders and updated them on the information available. Currently there are environmental studies and initial survey work taking place, so more detailed proposals, timetables and options will be discussed soon.
THE £300 FINE dished out to a local man for kerb crawling was an insult to local people and Thames Valley Police, according to Chris Maskell. "What kind of message does this send to the residents of Western Elms Avenue who, for far too long, have had to bear the burden of street sex workers and the vile anti social behaviour they bring with them. What kind of message does a £300 fine send to our area police officers who are working hard to address the problem. £300 wouldn’t go a fraction of the way towards recovering the cost of their operation. Local people and Thames Valley Police are tackling the problem of street sex workers head on with determination and fortitude but it seems our Magistrates are not prepared to do the same. It would appear our Magistrates either do not have a grasp on reality, have no backbone or do not have the time to consider the matter seriously. It was reported that our Magistrates spent a ‘whopping’ 5 minutes deliberation over how best to punish the individual concerned. They could have fined him £1,000 or taken his driving licence away or both. Instead they chose a mild slap on the wrist.
PLANS have been unveiled which shows how the misery of the Cow Lane bridges will soon to be a thing of the past. Following agreement to fund the redevelopment at Reading railway station, the improvment package to end this local bottle neck has also been included as part of the £515m package. The plan would see a new bridge at Scours Lane linking the Oxford Road with a new road running to Richfield Avenue. Work could start in 2009 and be completed by 2011. CCTV FOR THE AVENUES
KERB CRAWLERS AND DRUG DEALERS face a double whammy in West Reading following a meeting between the area's top cop and community leaders. Police Inspector Graham Dix told Battle councillors Chris Maskell and Tony Jones that he had signed the order for the installation of CCTV in Western Elms Avenue, following the recent outcry against the rise in street prostituion and drug dealing. But in a further welcome move, Insp Dix agreed to support the installation of CCTV at the junction of Prince of Wales Avenue and Kensington Road and overlooking Kensington Park - something local people had been calling for over the past two years. Insp Dix said that Christchurch Meadows had been given CCTV and the needs in Caversham was not as great as West Reading.
EARLIER THIS YEAR Battle Councillors renewed calls to police to raise their game against street prostitution and kerb crawlers in west Reading. At the time Chris Maskell said "Residents have endured enough. The council, police and others have worked hard to help prostitutes out of their often chaotic lifestyles. However we must never forget the interests of the local residents who have this nuisance in their faces. I renew calls to Thames Valley Police to target the kerb crawlers - including sending letters to the homes or workplaces of registered owners of vehicles seen in the area - warning them off. If the women had no prospect of customers, they would soon leave. I am also asking residents if they think extra CCTV would help." Now local police Inspector Graham Dix has set out an action plan to help clean-up the area. The plan includes: Target kerb crawlers using automatic number plate tracking systems Install CCTV cameras which would embarass the hell out of repeat offenders by writing to them or paying them a visit Create an exclsuion zone for all prostitutes in the Oxford road area Gather more data on anti-social behaviour by prostitutes in the area. Tony Jones said "I welcome this plan and it has my full support. We were asked for this to be done two years ago and despite assurances it clearly didn't happen. We will be watching closely to ensure this time these badly needed measures are delivered for the community."
KERB CRAWLING: WHAT THE LAW SAYS Kerb crawling is an ofence under section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1985. It is an indictable offence where it is likely to cause annoyance or is persistent behaviour. Offenders can be fined £1,000 and can be disqualified from driving. Battle councillors have argued for the past two years that the police need to use the powers available to it to stamp out this desperate community nuisance, including writing to the registered owners of vehicles seen in the "hotspots"in clearly marked Police envelopes - regardless of whether they are sent to a breakfast table or a workplace.
A LOCAL COUNCILLOR has called on residents to think more about what they are buying, how things are packaged or wrapped, and to recycle where possible. Battle Ward's Councillor Tony Jones said "Just think when you are out shopping next, do you really need that carrier bag they offer you? Refuse it if you can. And if you do take it, consider taking it back when you are next out. And lastly, when you've finished with all the packaging of every day life, think what you can reuse and that which you can't, then recycle what you can. If you follow this approach, it can be remarkable how much is actually left to put in the bin." Tony Jones quoted an example from elsewhere where improvements had been made. "In Ireland where supermarkets started charging for carrier bags, there was a very noticeable change with many fewer bags being taken up, with customers prefering to bring their own bags time and time again. As well helping the environment, fewer bags littered their towns." he said.
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Tony will now be holding his surgeries to meet residents on Tuesday evenings in Battle Library - the next will be on 5th August, 5.30pm to 7.00pm. No appointment necessary. GORDON BROWN'S GOING BACKWARDS
BROWN's BLUNDERING FIRST YEAR: HENLEY HUMILIATION GORDON BROWN suffered a scathing first anniversary verdict on his premiership when Labour not only lost its deposit in the Henley byelection, winning less than 5% of the vote, but was pushed into fifth place behind the Greens and the British National party. The last time one of the major parties finished fifth was in 1976. And no one can remember when the party of goverment did so badly. BROWN's BLUNDERS No.6: A POVERTY OF IDEAS ANOTHER of Gordon Brown's flagship campaigns is sinking fast, as it is revealed that rising numbers of children and pensioners are living in poverty, according to the Government's own figures. In total, 3.9 million children were living in poverty in the UK in 2007, an increase of 100,000 on 2006. Figures for pensioners were also up 200,000 to 2.1 million, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. BROWN's BLUNDERS No.5: RETROSPECTIVE CAR TAX The latest Government gaffe - that of seeking to double car tax on existing family cars - is another example of how far this government is out of touch with working people. By loading another £200 stealth tax on people, many of whom will have no alternative but to keep the cars they have, is wholly indefensible. It's one thing to tell people that if they choose to do things in the future, they will carry a tax, but quite something else to hit them after the event. But another U-turn may be coming ... BROWN'S BLUNDERS No.4: THE FIRST BYELECTION LOSS TO THE TORIES IN 30 YEARS Hot on the heals of the miserable performance at the local elections, in losing the byelection at Crewe & Nantwich, Labour managed to lose a seat to the Tories for the first time in 30 years. This was after Labour had recorded their lowest ever opinion poll rating - just 23% - since polls began in the 1930s. BROWN'S BLUNDERS No.3: THE WORST LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS IN 40 YEARS After less than a year at the helm, the dithering leadership of Gordon Brown has overseen the worst set of local election results for the Labour Party in 40 years. BROWN'S BLUNDERS No.2: THE 10p TAX The great unfairness of the removal of the 10p tax rate (contained in Brown's last budget) so hitting some of the poorest people in our community is just not good enough. Time for the "Undynamic Duo" of Brown and Darling to go! BROWN'S BLUNDERS No.1: THE 2007 NON-ELECTION No one likes a dithering leader. Now everyone knows that Brown let the thought of an election in the Autumn gather pace, only to pull-out at the last minute. Things can only get better - oh no they won't. Read Tony's comments on a range of issues beyond Battle ward, see and other stories below WHERE IS THE REFERENDUM WE WERE PROMISED? BACK THE POLICE - PAY THE FULL WAGE DEAL Full reports below A MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER
"Go on, Gordon, give us the referendum we promised everyone" BATTLE COUNCILLOR and former Mayor of Reading Tony Jones has called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown to honour Labour's 2005 General Election Manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the proposed European Treaty. The long-serving councillor, who has helped turn Battle ward into Labour's safest seat in Reading, said "I was proud to campaign for Labour before the last general election on our manifesto. We made promises to the British people. Now we have to honour them. To me, it's a matter of trust." Councillor Jones said "The proposed European Treaty is essentially the same document as was put forward as the abandoned Constitution. Regardless what you call it, the new proposal is mostly the same as the last one. Whether you support it or not, we must now give people the chance to vote on it. That's what we promised them. To move away from the manifesto commitment would be damaging for everyone involved or interested in democratic politics - whether they hold high office, are local councillors or simply deliver leaflets. This issue isn't going to go away, and it's not good enough to say now "leave it to Parliament" when we promised everyone a vote of their own. If a referendum vote is good enough for Council Mayors in the north, or Regional Assemblies in the North East, or self government in Scotland or Wales, the government can not now claim we should leave this for Westminster to decide. To ask Parliament simply to ratify or rubber stamp this law change, without any amendment possible, is no choice at all. We should have confidence in the people." said Tony Jones.
ALL MPs are on the fiddle. Or, at least, that's the growing public perception. The recent run of stories of some MPs adopting a more than interesting attitude to the way they disperse public money - whether over-paying student sons, family members or ex-lovers, or paying to rent rooms in properties they already own - further erodes public confidence and trust in these honourable members. Take a look at the Reading Credit Union It may suit you.
NO MORE
ON THE OXFORD ROAD Sign the on line petition or in the independent shops along the Oxford Road. HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR NEW YELLOW PAGES YET?
See how easy it is to recycle STOP CLIMATE CHAOS
We can all do something to stop climate chaos ...
... so try this "IN MY OPINION" A series of personal opinions on local and national issues which will be added to from time to time. On LOCAL GOVERNMENT
On NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
On EUROPE
On TAX
On TRANSPORT
On TESCO
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ANOTHER DRUG DEALER'S base in West Reading has been closed. The Hart Street property ... 
A TROUBLESOME hostel in West Reading closed by the police will not reopen .... 
