On Wednesday, March 17th 2010, 12-1.30pm, Reading Borough Council’s Sport Reading Development Team will launch the 2010 Healthy Workplace Challenge at the Civic Centre.

The Reading scheme involves building a program of physical activity and healthy eating advice for employees from businesses and organisations in the borough.

The launch of the Reading Healthy Workplace Challenge 2010 program follows a successful program last year. The challenge proved to be very popular and successful with many people from organisations of all sizes taking part.

Reading Borough Council, NHS Berkshire West NHS, Connexions and John Lewis have all signed up to the 2010 programme.

Some spaces are available for new businesses to take part in the new 12 –month rolling programme. Which means businesses can sign up any time of year and have full support from Sport Reading for the duration of 12 months.

Through the program, employers receive support to develop their Workplace Health Action Plan, whilst employees take part in challenges, get advice and information from the Sport Reading team, local leisure providers and other partners.

Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Reading Culture and Sport, said: "The Council’s healthy workplace challenge has been going for a couple of years now and it’s a great initiative to get people more active and think about their lifestyle."

Research shows that businesses benefit from having active employees who are happy, healthy and lead a more balanced lifestyle.

Living an active, healthy lifestyle can improve productivity at work, reduce absenteeism and improve motivation and morale.

Each month’s activities throughout this year will be based around a different theme. For example, March will focus on stress management and relaxation, to coincide with the end of the financial year.

Sport Reading offers two different levels of involvement in the initiative to employers:

HWPC 1-month trial: Get a taste of delivering one month of the Healthy Workplace Challenge from the 12 options available with full support from the Sport Reading Team. Motivational posters and event calendar with discounted activities will also be included for the whole workforce.

Cost £50.00

HWPC year programme: Encourage teams of colleagues on a month-by-month basis on each of the 12-month challenges with full support from Sport Reading. Active promotion of the monthly themes to all employees and development and implementation of a Workplace Health Plan.

Online access
Access and entry to leader board
Health checks and in house activities
3 workplace health consultations per year
Volunteering support
HWPC promotion pack
HWPC Champions pack
HWPC resource pack including health resources and cd rom
2 Champions training Day
Access to walking and cycling activities

Cost £ 250.00

For more information, call Jo O’Connor, Workplace Health Coordinator, on (0118) 0118 901 5712 or email healthyworkplacechallenge@reading.gov.uk

Reading Borough Council

Melvin Keates, from Saint Nicholas Road, Wallingford, had pleaded not guilty to nine charges of indecency, which related to incidents that had had happened between 1978 and 1987 in Reading.

Keates had a number of Reading girls who would babysit for him and the court heard that he would return early and force them to perform indent acts.

He was found guilty of eight of the nine Reading charges and was sentenced to three years and nine months in jail at Oxford Crown Court on Friday (12/3).

Det Con Pete Watts, from Reading CID, who led the investigation said: “Keates has never admitted the offences and his victims, all know grown women with children of their own, were forced to relive their ordeals in court.

“The victims, who have never spoken to each other about the incidents, are all very pleased with the outcome of the case.

“Despite having to go through a very traumatic time at court and relive childhood incidents, they now feel that they continue to move on with the rest of their lives.

“Personally, I have witnessed first hand the courage of these victims and other witnesses during the 18 month long investigation and trial and I am delighted with both the verdict and the sentence.

“The result shows that Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service will always treat victims of historic sexual assault cases with respect and compassion and will always seek to prosecute the offenders.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

A recent Reading trial of on street litter recycling bins at Shinfield Road and Christchurch Road has proved such a hit that Reading Borough Council’s Streetcare Team are now installing them at a variety of other locations.

The new bins allow Reading people to recycle cans, plastic and paper while they are out and about.

Each bin has its own design and is colour -coordinated to minimise the risk of contamination. They are then emptied on a weekly basis and contents are recycled, rather than sent to landfill.

The Reading Streetcare Team will begin the process of installing the bins at the following locations from March 14:

- Lowfield Rd shops, Caversham
– Farnham Drive Precinct, Caversham
– Meadway Precinct (Asda), Tilehurst
– The Triangle School Rd, Tilehurst
– Coronation Square, Southcote
– Wensley Rd shops, Coley
– Wokingham Rd shops
– Whitley Wood Lane/Northumberland Ave shops Whitley
– Whitley Street shops, Whitley
– Caversham Road
– Kings Road (outside TVU)
– Oxford Road / Norcot Road

Paul Gittings, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability, said: "Recycling rates in Reading continue to increase but we are determined to go even further. These new on street recycling bins not only provide a better service for our residents, but also have the added impact of helping to keep areas tidy and driving up recycling rates even further."

Reading Borough Council

The gates of King’s Road Gardens, near the Huntley and Palmer building in King’s Road, Reading have reopened this week following a three month project to stabilize the banks, plant trees, install new furniture and enhance the shrubbery, borders and general landscaping.

As part of the Reading programme of works, new fencing has been put up along the riverbank and brickwork has been re-pointed, with broken areas of walling repaired.

The site has been planted with urban wildlife in mind. The turfed banks are full of native wildflowers; the trees are good for birds and insects, and the border plants also have nectar, pollen and fruit for nature.

The pathway along the riverbank and through the gardens has also been re-laid with a hard-wearing surface that allows water to permeate through it. There are more benches than before, and a tree seat has been installed.

The Reading gardens are much better for a wider range of wildlife, and the views have been opened up too, making it more pleasant for people to use.

Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Reading Culture and Sport, said: "I know these gardens very well and am very pleased we’ve been able to deliver these improvements to such an important green oasis in a busy, built up area. We’ve taken particular concern to think about local wildlife, especially with the new riverbank."

Reading Borough Council

A 31-year-old man from West Reading was arrested in Salisbury Road, on Monday (8/3), after members of the team noticed him acting suspiciously.

He was searched and a quantity of Class A drugs and cash was found. He has been released on bail to return to Loddon Valley police station on 30 April.

A 38-year-old man from the Katesgrove area was arrested yesterday (9/3). He was seen to carry out a suspected drug deal in Howard Street, Reading and was followed to Castle Street where he was arrested.

He was searched and was found to be in possession of a quantity of Class A drugs. He has been released on bail to return to Loddon Valley police station of 19 April.

Reading Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Aaron Gibbs said: “These arrests highlight just a small amount of the work that the team constantly carries out to bring those involved in the supply of drugs in our community to justice.

“We always act on intelligence that we receive from the community and I urge anyone with any information to pass it on to the neighbourhood team.”

Anyone with any information about people involved in the supply of drugs in the Oxford Road area should contact the Reading neighbourhood team on 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, if you do not want to speak to police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

A new tie-up between Reading Borough Council and JC Decaux – the UK’s leading provider of bus shelters – will see a rolling programme of installing new bus shelters beginning this spring.

As well as higher quality bus shelters, the Reading Council has insisted on a more frequent cleaning and maintenance regime for the new shelters under the 15-year contract awarded to the company earlier this year.

The Reading Council has already begun the process of removing its ‘real time’ information displays from existing shelters while the switchover to the new shelters takes place. The real-time information displays will be re-instated when the new shelters are in position.

New solar-powered real-time passenger information displays have also been ordered and these will be installed at a number of Reading stops across town as a trial. The popular Madejski Park & Ride will be among the stops set to benefit from the new equipment which gives passengers up to the minute information on when their next bus will arrive.

Clear Channel, who formerly held the contract with the Reading Council, will begin the process of removing their bus shelters later this month. This means there may be a period of time when there is temporarily no shelter in place while the replacement is put in position.

Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor fro Transport and Planning, said: "Reading Borough Council and Reading Buses will be working together to ensure that replacement timetable information is available at all bus stops during this period of transition. We thank passengers in advance for their patience while the switchover to the new shelters takes place."

Reading Borough Council

Daniel Mark Smith, aged 27, from William Street, Reading was stopped on 29 September last year by Operation Falcon officers and was detained for a drug search.

He was taken back to Loddon Valley police station where police found a single cling film wrap containing heroin in his mouth and a further 23 were hidden in his boxer shorts.

Smith was charged with possessing Class A drugs with intent to supply and pleaded guilty to the offence at Reading Crown Court.

He was sentenced to 20 months in prison.

Det Con Jason Evans, from Reading Operation Falcon, said: “We hope this sends out a strong message to anyone supplying in drugs in Reading.

“This sentence demonstrates the commitment from both police and the courts to deal with drug dealers robustly.

“I would urge members of the public with any information about those involved in the supply of drugs in Reading to contact the Falcon team on 0845 8 505 505.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

The Reading events have been organised by The Warehouse in conjunction with Berkshire Women’s Aid, East Reading Children’s Centre and Safer Reading, and will give visitors a taste of activities including henna hand painting, Indian head massage and ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ including image makeover, style consultation and colour analysis.

There will also be lots of information on offer including information for Healthy Eating and from Thames Valley Police. There will also be workshops including one on Bollywood-style bhangra dancing.

There will be plenty of activities for Reading children including face painting, craft activities and story-telling in dual languages.

The activities will run from 10am until 2.30pm and entry is free. Refreshments are also available with lunch costing £2 for adults and just 50p for children.

Bet Tickner, Lead Councillor for Reading Communities & Neighbourhoods said: ‘Congratulations to the Warehouse for organising this celebration of International Women’s Day – a great opportunity for women to relax , enjoy themselves and try something new.’

Reading Borough Council

Reading Det Sgt Christina Berenger, who is leading a month of intense activity aimed at further reducing vehicle crime in the area, says that, while more motorists seem to be following crime prevention advice about not leaving valuables on display, they need to take some additional steps.

She said: “The message about not leaving sat navs and other valuables on display does seem to be getting home.

“However, thieves are opportunists and we have noticed a number of recent cases where they have broken into vehicles just to see if they have any valuables stored in the glove-box or because they have seen sucker marks on the windscreen from a sat nav system.

“I would ask motorists to help us by leaving their glove-boxes open to show that they do not contain anything worth stealing and to make sure that they rub away any ring marks from the windscreen.

“Vehicle crime is falling in Reading and by working together we can reduce it further.”

Anyone with any information about people involved in Reading vehicle crime should contact the Priority Crime Team at Reading on 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, if you do not want to speak to police or leave your name, please contact the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

The Reading drop-in will take place at Greyfriars Church, from 3.30pm to 7.00pm, on Monday, March 8.

The idea behind the event is to find out the views of single, homeless people on the services provided and to look at ways of improving them, based on this information.

People who attend will be helped by Reading staff to complete a short questionnaire. Free hot drinks and food will be provided.

Deborah Edwards, Lead Councillor for Reading Housing, said: "I urge single homeless people to take this opportunity to tell us honestly how they think we and our partners can provide better help for them. We are always looking at ways we can improve housing services in Reading, especially for the neediest members of our community, and hearing the views of people who use these services is a vital part of this process."

Reading Borough Council