Reading Roars!

Reading East MP Rob Wilson has remarkably suggested changing the town’s name to Reading-on-Thames in order to “make Reading more appealing”.

Interestingly, this tactic is being tried already - by London Street’s English Language Courses (ELC). Stated on ELC’s homepage are the words:

Welcome to the online brochure of: ENGLAND LANGUAGE COURSES in Reading-on-Thames, Berkshire, England.

The words “Reading on Thames”, arguably more attractive to the overseas reader (and potential customer) are again printed on a map displayed on the same page.

I really don’t think a name change is necessary. I do think we need to address the town/city confusion, however. We should either refer to Reading as a town or city, one or the other - not both. Reading Borough Council leader David Sutton, for example, responded to Wilson’s name suggestion with the following:

I would like us to continue to market Reading as a town which sits astride two increasingly attractive rivers

In an earlier statement, Sutton announced:

Chatham Place is a vitally important part of the reshaping of the centre of Reading, as we continue to create a vibrant European city of the future

I’m sure I’ve also seen the word “City” printed on the town’s buses.

On a less serious note, I myself had a go at giving Reading a new name. How about the following (silly) suggestions:

• Redding - To eliminate the usual confusion about the way the town name is pronounced
• Rdng - Reading for the txt generation
• Revving - A mecca for motorists
• Weading - A perfect destination for couples!
• Greying - Red no longer has the same allure. Grey is the “in” colour, apparently

In parliament, PM Tony Blair recognised efforts made in Reading to cut crime and underlined the need to implement tougher actions still. Blair said that the new powers were making a difference. Really? I’m still seeing drunk and disorderly people, fights and evidence of vandalism. Must try harder, I think:

Martin Salter (Reading, West) (Lab): Yesterday, the Prime Minister launched the respect action plan to give communities better opportunities to tackle crime, drugs and antisocial behaviour. Does he recognise that, in Reading, under the dynamic leadership of the local Labour council, supported by Chief Superintendent Dave Murray, excellent progress has been made in cutting crime through the use of antisocial behaviour orders and getting drug-addicted criminals into treatment programmes? How will his respect action plan help us in Reading and throughout the country to do even better?

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is right that there is a dynamic leadership in Reading that has indeed delivered the action on antisocial behaviour that he describes. The important thing is that the powers that we outlined yesterday build on that. For example, they extend the ability to give fixed penalty notices and there are tougher actions for homes that are used forantisocial behaviour and for antisocial behaviour especially by younger kids. He is right that, in Reading and other areas, which I have seen for myself recently, such as east Manchester, Harlow and Swindon yesterday, where local authorities, local police and local residents use the powers, they make a real difference. Anybody who believes that they are simply a gimmick
or knee-jerk populism should go to those areas, hear what local residents say, see the difference that they have made and recognise that they are a major part of an agenda for restoring community life in this country for the time in which we live, and allow local communities to put the law-abiding citizen, not the criminal, at their heart.

The war between former Reading East MP Jane Griffiths and the Reading Chronicle continues.

In her blog, Jane attacks Reading Chronicle journalist Karl “silly-boy” Plunkett for allegedly slamming the phone down on her when she called about an article published in the paper. The Chronicle’s “boys” have a “dangerous obsession” with her, she continues, that “seems to know no bounds”.

Interestingly, Jane also claims a Reading East resident informed her that Reading West MP Martin Salter

has now made enough money from his property connection to retire, and will be standing down at the next election to go and live in Canada and go fishing

So with one MP going to Latvia and the other, allegedly, to Canada, what is wrong with our lovely town?

Reading West MP Martin Salter (Lab) has called for the introduction of biometric identity cards.

Speaking at the Commons on Tuesday 18 October 2005, Salter rejected a claim that the cards would cost UK citizens GB£ 300 and said that they were quick to process. He continued:

I support identity cards. I campaigned for them before they became trendy and fashionable. I firmly believe that ID cards have a role to play in 21st century Britain. That is why most liberal democracies in the European Union have embraced the concept. Identity cards will disrupt the use of false and multiple identities by organised criminals and those involved in terrorist activity. They have a role to play in tackling illegal working and immigration abuse. They will enable easier and more convenient access to public services and ensure that they are used only by those who are entitled to them. They will help to protect the British people from identity fraud and theft.

Click here to read the full verbatim.