Deputy Mayor Diaries: Oxford Road Fun Day

On Saturday I was at the Oxford Road Fun Day.  I have attended as a resident, as a councillor for the past three years and this year as Deputy Mayor!  I'd have been hard pressed to predict that last year.

Although the weather was a bit glum, the event was great fun and even bigger than last year.   The Fun Day is a great community asset as it brings the various groups in the area together allowing people to network, find new things to do and, of course, have fun!

Some of the groups present were:

• Reading Neighbourhood Network and Baker Street Area Neighbourhood Association were there promoting their groups and listening to residents.

• Oxford Road Community Garden - you can earn time credits from the timebank by working in the garden!

•  The MS Society were supporting the local centre.

• Nature Nurture who want to bring children back to nature.  They will be in Prospect Park on 15 August too.

• The 103rd Oxford Road Scouts were there providing refreshments.

I was delighted to present volunteers from Christian Community Action with achievement certificates and prizes and got to speak to lots of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers without whom, the fun day wouldn't happen.

Special thanks go to Luke Trimby and Kim Jakubiszyn.

Click on the pictures to find out more about these organisations:

Having a go at the tombola with fundraisers for the Alexander Devine hospice

With the Oxford Road Timebank

OpenHand OpenSpace shared their creativity

With Kim who helped organise the day and is also part of 5th Tilehurst Guides

Thames Valley Police, the Royal Berkshire Fire Brigade and Oxford Road NAG provided advice and sirens!

NAG public meeting 15 October: what are residents priorities?

The Oxford Road Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) has a public meeting tomorrow:

7.30-8.30

Tuesday 15 October

Salvation Army Oxford Road

The NAG priorities residents voted for will be annouced and the public will get the chance to ask questions to the panel consiting of the NAG chair, Police, Council and Councillor (me in fact).  I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Hot off the press: Oxford Road NAG public meeting!

I regularly attend the Oxford Road Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG).  It's a very effective NAG, gets a lot done and we councillors get to hear about things we maybe weren't aware of. 

We also use it as an opportunity to bring issues to the table to make sure other community groups and residents know what we have been doing, share expereinces and also formulate actions.  The NAG is also attended by the Police and Reading Borough Council Officers, so is an opportunity to ask questions and hear updates - the policing updates are especially interesting.

Last night it was agreed that there will be a public meeting to annouce the results of the latest NAG survey.  It would be great to see as many people there as possible as the results of the survey influence the NAGs priorities and, you as residents, can be vital in making a difference.

Oxford Road NAG Public Meeting

Tuesday 15 October

7.30-8.30pm

Salvation Army Oxford Road