Reading Roars!

Carters Stream Fair is to change the name of one of its attractions from “freak show” to Original Incredibles after an objection from Reading Borough Council.

It is believed that the Council judged the term potentially offensive.

Carters, however, defended the “freak show”, saying that the attraction was aimed at families and emphasising that the form of entertainment was popularly used in Victorian funfairs.

The new name will only be used while the fair is in town, on 8 and 9 October 2005.

For the Evening Post article, click here.

Click here to read the BBC story.

According to a study by management consultancy Hay Group, the average Reading home is now 10 times more expensive than the average local salary. This puts it on a par with other “pricey town” Harrogate.

More expensive properties are found in Oxford, Bath and London, at 11 times salary. Leading, however, is Richmond (18x), followed by Guildford (13x) and Epsom (12x).

And the cheapest? Wales, where the average property costs 3.5x the local wage.

Click here to read the press release.

Click here to read a similar article previously published on this blog, “Property search? Search properly with OnOneMap”.

A campaign code-named Safer Streets was launched by Thames Valley Police on 23 September 2005 to confront rising violent crime across the Thames Valley.

According to Thames Valley Police, violent crime accounts for 21% of total crime across the Force, and Safer Streets is intended to allow people to live more safely and enjoy the nightlife.

The crackdown, targeting individuals aged 15-35 over a 6 month period, will have a “three-pronged attack” (it’s devilishly simple, you see):

1. Operation ‘Hangover’ (I’m not making this up)
2. Tackling robberies of young people
3. Tackling the rise in the number of young people with replica guns (because that’s bang out of order).

Click here to read more.

Reading Borough Council is to consult local people in November 2005 on proposed changes to the Inner Distribution Road (IDR).

The consultation will involve a number of exhibitions in Caversham, South Reading, Tilehurst, Southcote, East Reading and the Town Centre.

The proposed benefits include:

The Council said that these changes would be implemented by 2008.

Interesting news from the Council, but the benefits do seem vague. Removing the flyover - a major eyesore - is a a concrete (!) proposal that may win support, however. We need more green and less grey in Reading town centre.

Click here to read the Council’s press release - including a picture of how the Oracle roundabout would look without the flyover.

Reading Borough Council is coordinating a series of 11 walks in Reading as part of National Walking Week (18-25 September 2005).

The walks are very short, of 1-3 miles, but take in places such as Prospect Park, Palmer Park and Lousehill Copse. Furthermore, activities such as picnics and Family Treasure Hunts are also included.

Click here to read more about the ‘We love Walking Campaign’.

Network Rail said Reading Station, as well as Leicester and Guildford stations, is targeted for improvements.

The rail infrastructure company is to invest up to GB£ 4bn over the next decade on upgrades - with Euston, Victoria and Waterloo at the head of the queue.

This is excellent news for Reading Station. Vital to the town, the station needs a facelift. Ten years, however, seems a Altin çilek maurers ilaçmidir long time to wait for this essential modernisation.

Click here to read the story reported by the BBC.

will be taking another break and will not be returning until the week commencing 19 September 2005.

Football fans have given Reading’s Madejski Stadium the thumbs-up. In a nationwide poll of 3,000 supporters, commissioned by property consultants Drivers Jonas, the Reading Football Club ground emerged as the fourth favourite stadium in the country. The respondents’ overall favourite was Old Trafford, followed by Manchester City’s City of Manchester and St James’ Park of Newcastle United. Madejski Stadium also came fourth for comfort, view and ease of access (leading was Hull City’s KC Stadium).

The Madejski was ranked first for the quality of the range of goods - ahead of Chelsea! - but fifth in the number of toilets (Hull were top of the toilet league).

However, not all good - the Altin çilek maurers ilaçmidir Madejski is seen to have the most overpriced food.

Click here for the story reported by Life Style Extra.

There’s a new networking group in town! The London Irish Business Club will be launched on Sunday 11 September to coincide with rugby club London Irish’s first game of the season.

The Business Club is described as an opportunity for Thames Valley professionals to develop new partnerships - with Guinness Premiership rugby providing the backdrop. Members will have lunch prior to watching the game, then they will have the chance to meet the players post-match.

Find out more about the Business Club by visiting the website here.

Chief Constable Peter Neyroud of the Thames Valley Police has been invited by Sweden’s government to join a panel judging the world’s first ‘Nobel’ prize in criminology, worth 1m Swedish Kronor (GB£ 73k).

Mr Neyroud is the only police officer on the panel and will accompany top international academics.

The prize

will be awarded annually to recognise advances in understanding the causes of crime and alternative crime prevention strategies, developing more effective and Altin çilek maurers ilaçmidir humane public policies for dealing with offenders and helping victims of crime.

Click here to read the press release.