Quick update! May 2013

Gosh - been so busy I've had little time for blogging.  Here's a quick update:

I am pleased to see a bid being put in by Reading Borough Council for more school places.  In the Battle/Central West area this includes:

• EP Collier Primary School expansion 

• Southcote Primary School expansion 

• A new Academy serving the Oxford Road 

• Churchend Primary Academy expansion 

• St Michael’s Primary School expansion 

Two of Battle's roads are to be resurfaced in the summer:

• Prince of Wales Avenue

• Prospect Street

 

Lot's of the potholes I have reported have been filled, with more marked out for filling.  Today I noticed a very deep hole in Chester Street has been filled.  If you spot any, let me know.

The trial of communal bins for the residents above the shops on Oxford Road appears to be going well with no more bin bag mountains!  

We had an excellent launch event for the Battle 106 funding consultation.  It's live for a few more days and you can go to the website by clicking the picture top right.

The Community First in Battle panel met on Wednesday to discuss the 2013-2014 round of funding.  Our blog will be updated soon: http://communityfirstbattle.blogspot.co.uk/

We have a councillors drop-in tomorrow at Battle Library 10.30-12 so come along with your questions, concerns and comments.

I have also been out and about with Victoria Groulef, our parliamentary candidate in Reading West.  I have created links to some of our recent appearances in the local press which also give you some idea of what we've been up to.  You can see them here : http://www.cllrsarahhacker.com/p/in-press.html

Finally I am pleased to have been re-elected chair of Labour Group and chair of the new Housing, Neighbourhoods & Leisure committee.  

All this plus starting to get things growing the the garden (more of this to follow), training for the Race For Life (button top left) and being a bridesmaid. Phew!

 

Let's Talk Education - Battle Event!

Since the shortage of primary school reception classes became apparent last year I have not stopped asking what is to be done about it and atending many meetings tasked with solving the problem. We are very short of suitable sites in Battle to expand or even build a school so choices are very limited. I believe it is vital that families can be confident their child will have a place in school.

At the full Council meeting last week I asked Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Education & Children's Services what was being done to provide these much needed places. Part of his response was the up-coming Let's Talk Education sessions. Potential expansion plans will be announced and discussed. Some will be accepted and some will be firmly rejected but, what must happen is children get a place in a school.

The event in Battle will be next Tuesday 12 March at 7.30 at the Emmanuel Methodist Church. I will see you there!

04/03/2013
Reading Borough Council Press Release

PARENTS and local residents are being invited to a series of Let’s Talk Education feedback events in March to hear more about how Reading Borough Council is proposing to meet the rising demand for school places across the town.