Councillor surgery tomorrow

There is a Battle Ward councillors surgery at Battle Library tomorrow, Saturday 5 February, 10.30-12.  Please come along if you have any questions or concerns.  No need to make an appointment, just pop in.  Anything discussed will be treated confidentially.

If you can't make it tomorrow, please do get in touch with us.  Our contact details can be found here.

Who steals from children?

This isn't a political post, just one from a mum who can't believe someone has broken into a playgroup and stolen childrens equipment.  You must be in a pretty sorry state to do something like that.

Gloucester Road playgroup, in Battle ward, received an Outstanding rating from OFSTED before Christmas and started the year on excellent form only to have their computers, cameras and cash stolen over the weekend.  My son attends this fabulous playgroup and the theft is so sad.  The story in GetReading is here.

If anyone can help in any way please get in touch with the playgroup whose contact information can be found here.

Letting my garden grow and saving pennies

I am a keen gardener, not great, but very enthusiastic.  I have been leafing through seed and plant catalogues trying to decide what to grow - usually a balance between ease and cost saving.  Fruit is usually the greatest cost so that will be a focus - we have a cherry tree, raspberries and strawberries already.  Blueberries went in last year to crop this year and I have a blackberry and tayberry waiting to be planted.  It's not a big garden but will be crammed!

Having read in the national press that farmers are predicting food prices will rise, growing some of our own food will certainly help.  VAT has gone up so some everyday purchases cost more and this, combined with more expensive food, will make the next year tougher on the bank balance. 

Council Tax is likely to be frozen but the Tory-led council will be making other charges to compensate such as being charged for green bag/bin collection, no more concessions for large waste item collection, more charging for parking and a focus on increased income from fines.  Council tenants will see a rise in their rent and those with mortgages are likely to see an interest rate rise as the Bank of England battles with rising inflation.

Not ready to sacrifice the flower border for veggies yet but it may become a sensible choice.

From the RCRE Holocaust Memorial Event

I have just got back from the Reading Council for Racial Equality (RCRE) Holocaust Memorial Day event.  It was moving and interesting in equal parts and the speakers told me many things about the children of war I never knew.  It was made clear that even if an issue you care about doesn't effect you personally, speak out and help others as you may need their help one day.  We read this out at the end:

First They Came
Pastor Martin Niemoller

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialist
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionist
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jew
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.

We left them a recovering economy and they broke it!

I must admit I was surprised to see the economy did not grow in the last quarter.  There have been warnings of a double-dip recession but it's not something anyone wanted.  I really do hope this quarter shows growth and recession is avoided.

You cannot grow an economy by making massive cuts as the Tory-led Government have done.  It leaves people fearing for their jobs, homes and services and not likely to spend any more than they have to.  And you also can't blame the lack of growth on snow!!!!!