Reading Websites

A number of people have been arrested and a large quantity of drugs seized through an intense two week operation led by Reading’s Operation Falcon team.

The two week Reading operation, called Operation Elemental, has also seen a large quantity of cash being recovered.

Reading Arrests made during the operation so far include:

*Paul McGivern, aged 42, from Willow Street, Reading, was arrested on 16 February on suspicion of possession of class A drugs. He has been charged with the offence and appeared at Reading Magistrates’ Court the following day, where he was remanded in custody.

*An 18-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of possessing class A drugs with intent to supply after police executed a warrant at an address in Henley Road, Caversham, on 17 February. She has been released on bail to return to Loddon Valley police station on 30 March. During the raid a large quantity of cocaine and heroin was recovered, together with a substantial amount of money.

*A 47-year-old woman from Rose Kiln Lane, Reading was given a caution on 18 February after admitting possessing four wraps of heroin.

*A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs with intent to supply after police executed a warrant at an address in Oxford Road on 19 February. He has been released on bail to return to Loddon Valley police station on 27 March. A large quantity of what is believed to be class A drugs was recovered in the raid.

*Samantha McKenzie, aged 34, from Wensley Road, Coley, has been charged with possession of class A drugs, after a warrant was executed at her home address on Monday (22/2). She has been released on bail to attend Reading Magistrates’ Court on 9 March.

*A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of class A drugs after police executed a warrant at an address in St Paul’s Court earlier today (26/2). He has been released on bail to return to Loddon Valley police station on 29 March.

Reading Sgt Jennie Fox, who led the operation, said: “We have executed a number of warrants across the Reading area and in doing so, have achieved some excellent results, including seizing drugs with a street value of several thousands of pounds.

“My officers will deal with individuals as robustly as necessary in order to execute the warrants and secure evidence, in order to bring them to justice.

“I urge anyone who has any information about individuals involved in the supply of class A drugs in the Reading area to contact police, so that we can take the necessary action.

“Drug dealers have an incredibly negative impact on the quality of life experienced by residents. It’s extremely disheartening, especially in the current economic climate, for honest hard-working people to see others leading luxurious lifestyles that are funded by dealing drugs.

“Operation Falcon does not tolerate individuals who seek to make profit from supplying drugs, whatever class, to our community. We will continue to seek every opportunity to tackle drug related crime.

“I would warn anyone involved in the supply of drugs in Reading that they should seriously consider their continued involvement. Operation Falcon will continue to use a zero tolerance approach and will continue to use a number of tactical options to target those responsible.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

NHS Berkshire West and partner Reading Borough Council are making successful in-roads to reducing teenage conception in the town.

This follows the publication on February 24 2010 of figures by the national Teenage Pregnancy Unit that reveal Reading has now seen a third consecutive year of reduction in under-18 conception rates.

For 2006 the Reading rate was 54.3 per 1,000 females aged 15-17 (the standard measure). For 2007 it was 51.6 and the provisional figure for 2008 is 46.0. There has been a reduction of 27% since 1998.

Charles Waddicor, Chief Executive of NHS Berkshire West, said: "I welcome the drop in the rate of teenage pregnancies in Reading. This decrease has been the result of the far reaching work we have carried with Reading Borough Council. We are providing good advice on contraception and the message about safer sex appears to be getting through. Reading’s Walk-in Health Centre is a valuable resource in reducing conception rates among teenagers.

"Our priority is to establish a firm and sustainable downward trend in teenage conception rates and increase the proportion of teenage parents in education, training or employment to 60% and to reduce the risk of long-term social exclusion for them and their children."

John Ennis, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Children’s Services, said: "I’m delighted to see that all the hard work that the Council and NHS Berkshire West have put into reducing the rate of teenage pregnancies in Reading – and especially the efforts and resources we have put into educating our young people about this vitally important aspect of their lives – has now begun to pay off in a sustained and robust improvement. It has taken great commitment by everyone who works with young people to achieve this improvement and we are determined to do all we can to continue to reduce the level of teenage pregnancies further."

NHS Berkshire West and Reading Borough Council have based their success on the following actions:

* Consultation with young Reading people to hear their views about the rebranding of sexual health services for young people and future media campaigns
* The Teenage Pregnancy Strategic Partnership Board is now jointly chaired by the Chief Executive of NHS Berkshire West, Charles Waddicor, and Reading’s Director of Education and Children’s Services, Anna Wright.
* Appointed a specialist Reading advisor to work with schools to improve sex and relationship education. Young people have told us that they want more input on managing emotions and relationships and good information about contraception
* A pharmacy scheme funded by NHS Berkshire West continues to run. This ensures that young people in Reading can access Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) for free at 16 pharmacies across Reading.
* A Sexual Health Reading Outreach Nurse has been appointed, whose primary responsibilities are to provide sexual and reproductive health services to the most vulnerable and at risk young people in Berkshire West.
* The re-commissioning of Body Zone Clinics – young people’s health drop-in services provide information, advice and referral on all health issues, specifically sexual health and contraception advice
* The Peer education service delivered by Barnardo’s has trained 15 young people who deliver sex and relationship education to their peers
* The Reading C Card scheme was launched in March 2009 and provides young people under-19 better access to sexual health information and free condoms, leading in turn to a greater awareness about safer sex, unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections.

Young people who want further information about services provided by NHS Berkshire West and Reading Borough Council to reduce teenage conceptions should contact the Teenage Pregnancy Team on 0118 966 7640.

Reading Borough Council

Reading Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a man was found with serious head injuries in a road in Reading on 26/7.

Officers discovered the man at about 10.15pm while on patrol at the Reading Castle Street roundabout in the town centre.

The man was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading before being transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he remains with critical injuries to his head.

Reading Det Sgt Ashley Hannibal said: “The man is white, approximately 25-years-old and we believe he may be Polish.

“I would urge that anyone who may have seen what happened come forward and speak to us and help us with our investigation.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt Hannibal via the 24-hour Thames Valley Police Enquiry Line on 0845 8 505 505, or alternatively contact the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

Reading, Berkshire ~ Photographic
Photography, web and 360 Virtual Tours

About us:

360 Media Studio provide all aspects of photographic services to businesses or individuals. 360 virtual tours, Portraits, pets, products and event photography are just some examples.

The 360 Media Studio mobile studio solution with instant viewing and printing are always a great wow factor for your event.

Please view our website for more information and contact us now to discuss your requirements. We look forward to putting you in the picture.

Contact Details:

360 Media Studio
19 Master Close
Reading
Berkshire
RG5 4UB

Telephone: 0118 927 2435

Our Website

Reading, Berkshire ~ Bookkeeping Services
Firm comprises a trusted team of bookkeepers providing the highest degree of professional service.

About us:

Our firm primarily serves the Reading region. We provide a variety of services for individuals, partnerships, trusts, estates, and companies. These services include tax preparation bookkeeping.

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide personal service to meet your business and individual requirements in these rapidly changing economic times, at what is a low, low price.

Contact Details:

Easy Bookkeeping
Pingemead House
Pingemead Business Park
Reading
Berkshire
RG30 3UR

Telephone: 0118 907 6403

Reading, Berkshire ~ Jewellery
Hand / footprint & Fingerprint Jewellery & 3d baby hand / foot casting.

About us:

Julia Jones and Kate Reed are based in Earley, Reading, and can create unique and everlasting memories of your baby’s precious early days (framed or free standing 3d hand/foot casts) or as they grow (miniaturised hand/foot prints or fingerprints in handmade fine silver jewellery).

These make ideal keepsakes or novel gifts. We can also create silver jewellery incorporating your pet’s very own miniaturised pawprint! Casting parties and discounts are available.

Contact Details:

Tiptoe Designs
167 Church Road
Earley
Reading
Berkshire
RG6 1HN

Telephone: 0118 926 6442

A packed programme of varied events has been lined up to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight in Reading.

The Reading events are on now and run through until Sunday 7 March. Highlights include:

* A Fairtrade morning break with the Mayor Fred Pugh. Reading Borough Council staff will be quizzed on what usual shopping items they will be swapping for a fair trade one while they taste the ever expanding range of exotic Fairtraded foods.

* A Fairtrade Reading Banana Workshop. Performance artist Anti-Cool will be working with some volunteers from RISC, visiting local shops to find out where their bananas come from. The journey will be filmed and abstracts shown at RISC

* How Fair is Fairtrade? Vinay Devaiah a Fairtrade tea producer from the South of India will talk about his experience.

* Reading Fairtrade tasting stalls

A number of local Reading churches and schools will feature Fairtrade’s work during their services and assemblies and a couple of exhibitions are also up and running. One is in the foyer of the Civic Offices and includes Reading Museum’s new fairtrade loan box. This is open 9am to 5.30pm weekdays.

The second exhibition is running until 18 March and is called In the Light of Fairtrade. This is a photographic exhibition by Candida Lucca, documenting local people and their skills. It will be on show in Reading High Street

The annual Fairtrade Fortnight encourages more people to opt for Fairtrade products like tea, coffee, honey, bananas and chocolate. By doing so they are helping support producers in developing countries.

Reading became a Fairtrade Town in 2004. This year’s flagship employers committed to promote fair trade within their workplace include Readibus and Unison while the Spread Eagle is Reading’s first Fairtrade pub selling Fairtrade coffee and honey beer.

All local schools within the central School Meals contract with the council supply Fairtrade food and tuck shops sell Fairtrade products.

There are also 45 cafes and restaurants serving Fairtrade beverages or snack and 40 churches are now registered as Fairtrade churches.

Paul Gittings, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Environment and Sustainability, said: "Fairtrade continues to go from strength to strength in Reading which is a tribute to the many hard working volunteers who give their time to promote its activities. I am very proud we are a Fairtrade Town and as a council we give it our wholehearted support."

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police have arrested a 16-year-old Reading boy and an 18-year-old man on suspicion of rape, after a 13-year-old girl was sexually assualted in Calcot, Reading during the early hours of Saturday morning (20/2).

Det Sgt Neil Williams, investigating the incident, said: “We believe the incident took place in Pincents Lane, Calcot.

“I am keen to find out the full circumstances surrounding what happened and would like to speak to anyone who was in the area or has any information that could assist our investigation.”

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Det Sgt Williams at Newbury CID via 0845 8 505 505, or if you don’t want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading

Reading residents are being invited to get involved in helping to plan how the area around Reading Station will look in future years.

Reading Borough Council is publishing a document called the ‘Reading Station Area Framework’ – a planning document that sets out how the areas adjacent to Reading Station might be developed, making the best possible use of the proposed upgrading of Reading Station.

The area surrounding Reading’s busy railway station is one of the most accessible locations in the UK and the major upgrade of the main line railway and the station itself will bring significant increases in capacity. There is an opportunity for any new developments to make better use of the location, as well as provide significant regeneration of the area.

The framework – which follows on from the Reading Central Area Action Plan which outlined initial guidelines for the area – covers an area bounded by the River Thames to the north, Friar Street to the south, Caversham Road to the west and Forbury Road to the east.

It starts to define the principles that should be adopted for any Reading developments in the area and outlines broad principles to guide the redevelopment of the area, including the areas to the north and south of the station.

The document provides illustrative layouts and views of how the area should be developed and also includes proposals for the use and development of individual sites, the public realm and new transport infrastructure.

Reading Borough Council is keen for Reading residents to get involved at this early stage so they can have a look at how the framework is developing and have some input into how the area could look in the future.

Tony Page, Reading’s Lead Councillor for Planning and Transport, said: ‘The Station area is one of the most accessible and sustainable locations in the United Kingdom. The area to the north of the station offers huge potential for new sustainable developments including employment and residential uses. The plan also proposes a new pedestrian and cycle bridge east of Pipers Island to further strengthen links to the town centre. Once again, the Council is encouraging people to involve themselves in shaping this crucial area of the town.’

The Council is holding a number of exhibitions and an open public meeting in March where people can find out more and get involved.

Exhibitions will be held at Caversham Library on Thursday March 4 between 2pm and 7pm and at the Civic Centre, Committee Room 1, on Friday March 12, also between 2pm and 7pm.

The Open Public Meeting – where there will be presentations offering more detailed information and public workshops – will take place at Victoria Hall, Town Hall, Reading, on Monday March 22 between 6.30pm and 9pm.

Public Consultation on the Reading Station Area Framework runs from Friday February 19 to April 2. A full copy of the document can be viewed at all Reading Borough Libraries during normal library opening hours, or at the Planning Reception counter of the Civic Centre (9am-5pm weekdays).

People can comment online by emailing ldf@reading.gov.uk or by writing to: LDF Planning Team, Planning Department, Civic Centre, Reading, RG1 7AE or phoning 0118 939 0286. Feedback will also be taken at the March exhibitions.

Reading Borough Council

Thames Valley Police is urging Reading residents to be vigilant when dealing with callers to their homes.

This follows two separate incidents over the past week where Reading householders have been duped into allowing bogus callers into their home.

Reading Crime Reduction Advisor, John McNicholas, said: “This is by no means a new method being used by burglars and involves them having to use no force at all to get in. In fact, they rely on catching the householder off-guard.

“They have been using a cover story of being from the electricity or gas board to persuade the householder to allow them in. By the time it is noticed anything is wrong, the offenders have fled.

“In one of these incidents that occurred on Wednesday (17/2) in Argyle Street, £50 was handed over to the offender when the home owner was tricked into believing he was there to fix her boiler.

“The other incident happened on Tuesday (16/2) in Highdown Hill Road, Emmer Green. Nothing was stolen.

“My advice is to not let anybody you don’t know into your home. Make sure you can see the caller before you open the door and if you have a door chain, use it. It is best to be on the safe side and not open your door at all if you are unsure.

“Always ensure your back door is locked before opening the front door and check with the company they claim to be from. Don’t forget, it is up to you who you allow through into your home.

“If you think you have been visited by bogus callers or need further advice please contact police immediately.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Reading