DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Monday March 5th at 7.30pm
EGRA Committee Meeting.
Let us know if there is anything you wish to be discussed.

Thursday 8th-Sunday 11th March
RESCUE Event
http://readingrescue.org.uk/about/
Committee member Jasmine Waters hopes to co-ordinate a local litter pick on one of the days, so please contact her on 0118 947 0785 or email JasWa13739@aol.com for further information.

Tuesday March 20th at 7.00pm
Highdown School – Manor House meeting Room.
Upper Caversham Neighbourhood Action Group meeting.

Thursday May 17th at 8.00pm
The Grace Church, Peppard Road
AGM and talk on Emmer Green’s caves and chalk mines

Monday 4th June 2012
Diamond Jubilee Picnic in the Park – Emmer Green Recreation Ground

Thursday 19th April, 10.15am (at the museum)
Thames Valley Police Museum at Sulhampstead http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/aboutus/aboutus-museum.htm. If you are interested, please email barry.prior@backhouses.co.uk or phone 0118 9461150 to add your name to the list.

Environmental Visual Audits
An opportunity to walk round your area with Council representatives assessing local needs:
Thursday 5th April, 10.30am The Ridings / Peppard Road
Thursday 3rd May, 10.30am Budgens /Cavendish Road
Tuesday 8th May, 10.30am Tredegar Road / Blaenant
Thursday 7th June, 10.30am Evesham Road/ Southdown Road

NEWS

Graffiti Removal
EGRA’s Richard Hammond hosted a Graffiti Removal Training Session in January. Bob Cruickshank has done a valiant job over the years in keeping our streets clean. We thank him for that. Richard now takes over that role, so please report anything that needs cleaning up to him and action will be taken. egra.members@gmail.com

New Parking Restrictions
Parking issues were the focus of the Neighbourhood Action Group meeting on 19th January. It was emphasised the new double yellow lines were on trial and anyone with any comments should do so in writing to the Council.

Tree Replacement
The campaign by Courtenay Drive residents to fund replacement trees in partnership with Reading Borough Council has been a great success. Nine trees are due to be planted in February. It is hoped the initiative may be rolled out in neighbouring streets.

Shopping Precinct Car Park
EGRA has had a positive response to a letter written by our Vice Chairman. There is some hope that lighting and surface problems will be addressed. Please be aware that this is a private car park and vehicles not using the shops in the precinct at the time may be clamped. However, we have also been assured that the future focus will be on deterring commuters using the car park, rather than regular shoppers.

Caversham 100 Years On
The panels that were created for the history of Caversham event in 2011 have been reproduced and bound in A3 format. Copies are on sale for £10 at WordPlay, Caversham. Please call the shop on 0118 9482800, or email info@wordplay.co.uk

Queen's Diamond Jubilee 2012
The government has publicised national plans.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_197517
EGRA has already set in motion plans for a community generated Picnic in the Park to mark this historic occasion. It will take place on Monday 4th June 2012
Reading is one of the towns mentioned bidding for city status.

Reading Borough Council Press Release
The Council warns vulnerable residents against unscrupulous doorstep salesmen of mobility aids. For major items seek the advice of an occupational therapist. The Office of Fair Trading can offer advice about purchasing on the doorstep. If you would like to report a problem with sales of mobility aids please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040 506 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/consumer.
You can also look for suppliers who are members of the ‘Buy With Confidence’ scheme. All business on this list are approved by Trading Standards - www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk

Thames Valley Police
The non-emergency contact number has changed to 101.
Anyone wishing to register on the Upper Caversham NAG website should go to NAG details are on the website www.uknags.org.uk/view_group.php?nag=1 Click on ‘NAG Member Registration’ on the blue bar at the top, if you haven’t already done so. For the latest monthly updates from your Local Neighbourhood Policing Team: Caversham North http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/yournh/yournh-tvp-pol-area/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berksw/yournh-tvp-pol-area-berksw-reading/pub-pg-nh-upds-N130?id=204879 There is some useful advice on how to protect your home.

Food 4 Families
This local initiative has set up community allotments in Reading including Emmer Green. If you wish to donate tools, seeds or materials email sharon@risc.org.uk, or phone 0118 9586692.
www.food4families.org.uk

Friends of Clayfield Copse
The group meets on the first Sunday in each month at 10.00am in the car park for active conservation work in and around the woods. For more details and contact information, visit http://www.econetreading.org.uk/clayfield/. New volunteers are always welcome. Phone Anne Latto on 0118 9484454 or email anne_latto@yahoo.co.uk.
Work is well underway by the Berkshire and Mid Thames Woodcarvers on series of waymarks for the woods.

Caversham Good Neighbours
This voluntary organisation based in Caversham helps residents of Caversham and Emmer Green by offering transport to local surgeries, hospital etc. and home visits. They would like to recruit more volunteers and also promote the service they offer. Please phone the office on 0118 9483466 Monday to Friday 9.30am -11.30am or Secretary Pat Rawlings on 0118 9477778.

History of Emmer Green website
For ten years this site has been hosted by Highdown School and we wish to thank Jane Moody for her help creating the pages and maintaining it. The school now has a new website, which is hosted externally. In future EGRA will be hosting the history site. It may take a while to reconfigure and incorporate it into the EGRA site. We will let you know when that is done.