Safer Streets

A tiny, but significant number of drivers put the safety of children and others at risk by parking illegally. Your Lib Dem councillors  continue to engage regularly with our traffic wardens, residents and Hawkedon School to help tackle this problem. Your Lib Dem councillors at Wokingham Borough Council have been working with their colleagues at Earley Town Council on plans to improve  road safety. We will keep you informed of progress.

Residents have told us how pleased they are that Earley Town Council has responded to requests for more benches along popular walking routes. We have requested more benches in more places!

Listening to you, then taking action

Here are some of the many things that your Lib Dem councillors in Earley have taken action on because we listened to you:
• Councillor Caroline Smith raised your concerns about the illegal use of e-scooters, and the Local Police Area Commander has since announced a crackdown on them.

• We listened to your concerns about the need for roads to be maintained. You may have seen some of our new preventative maintenance measures and the very efficient “jetpatcher” at work

• Besides our actions already taken to improve road safety outside schools, your Earley Lib Dem councillors are working with  residents on further measures.

Protecting our environment

Trees along the Gipsy Lane foot and cycle path are now protected by an interim Tree Protection Order, that we hope will become permanent. The monthly Community Corner drop-in event in Maiden Lane shopping area has been well attended. Besides the Anti-Social Behaviour and Neighbourhood Police teams, Citizens Advice and Cranstoun Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service have participated.

Councillors Clive Jones, Bethan Owen and David Hare, helping to protect our green spaces.

Campaigner Melanie De Jong at the November Community Corner. We continue to engage with the University on their exciting plans to keep and enhance Swallows Meadow as a green space open to the community. We are expecting public announcements in the
new year.

Danehill update

Many residents will remember the terrible state that the former Auto-trader site was left in; and our planning appeals against  unsuitable residential development on the site. Councillor Ryan Browne says, “It was a real battle to get the site made safe. We are delighted with the state-of-the-art commercial building that has now been completed, and with the jobs that it will bring.”

Community speedwatch

Lib Dem Councillors are supporting efforts to start a Community Speed Watch in Earley. Recently Councillor Andrew Mickleburgh  and a police officer recorded vehicles breaking speed limits at five speeding hotspots. Please visit www.communityspeedwatch.org to find out how you might volunteer to help reduce speeding on our streets.

Protecting our green spaces

Residents tell us they value our green spaces. Councillor Andrew Mickleburgh says, “We have applied for trees along the Gipsy Way foot and cycle path to be protected, and are acting to stop private gardens encroaching on parkland. “University of Reading Officers have an exciting proposal to protect and increase biodiversity on Swallows Meadow. We will keep you updated! “The Redhatch copse ancient woodland has now been transferred to and will be cared for by Earley Town Council.”

Supporting local bus services

Lib Dem Councillors supported Earley Town Council’s decision to contribute just under £1,300 a year for three years to subsidise the 19a,b,c and 127 bus services in Earley.

David Hare, Leader of the Town Council, explained, “This money comes from contributions developers pay the Council when building new homes, not from Town Council taxpayers; and will help keep these vital bus services running.”Come and “Have Your Say”

We support the regular Have Your Say events organised by our neighbourhood police. We are always keen to listen and respond to what you tell us.