It’s a mad, mad, mad world
My letter to
(November 15) stated the increase in Wokingham Borough Council’s debt would, by next year, be likely to increase by some 11,000%.
I don’t quite know where the unwanted additional nought appeared from, but of course the figure should have read (a still eyewateringly) 1,100 (eleven hundred) per cent.
The figure printed in error does the council an injustice and I stand suitably corrected, admonished and apologetically red-faced
With new shops / restaurants and a cinema coming to the town hopefully we will have a busier day / nightlife shopping around the town.
I think its always too easy to look at the negatives we have all experienced a bit of pain with traffic and roadworks and shops leaving but hopefully this has now turned a corner and we will be looking forwards to the future of the town and enjoying a new Wokingham for years to come.
Saving our Post O ce
On Saturday I will continue to collect signatures along with other campaigners for our petition to keep Wokingham’s Crown Post Office where it belongs – in the much loved, historic post office building.
The Post Office is at the heart of our local community in a way WHSmith will never, ever be. The Post Office is not just a collection of services – it is a community asset, owned by us all and a vital part of Wokingham’s historic character.
I was delighted to hear from Cllr Munro that Cllr Mirfin will write to the Post Office asking them to keep our Post Office in its current location. I was also delighted that Cllr Munro committed to write to John Redwood MP.
It is important remember the Post
In the meantime, the turmoil pervading the corridors of Shute End Towers continues apace.
The borough council’s former deputy leader and executive member for finance, who chose to walk out in September, has now – after Cllr Charlotte Haitham Taylor was dumped on a vote of no confidence – decided, at the drop of a hat, to walk back in again.
It seems that over a relatively short period of time, the council had gained and disposed of more leaders and deputy leaders
Office is owned by HM Government, and there is a minister for the Post Office who can influence the decisions made by the Post Office. Mr Redwood must make every effort to convey to the minister that we want to keep our Crown Post Office where it belongs.
My motion to council last Thursday was a clear statement of the need for immediate action. I was very disappointed that the Lib Dems chose to play a pathetic political game by amending the motion. They weakened the motion to the point of irrelevance, purely to score a political point.
The hundreds of signatures on our petition, and conversations with residents in my ward, have made it very clear: people want to keep our Post Office where it belongs. At long last, Tory and LibDem councillors have done the right thing and voted against awarding themselves a pay rise.
Over the previous three years, only Labour Councillors have consistently voted against the rises.
As reluctant Tories and Lib Dems made clear in Thursday’s Council meeting, now is not the right time to increase our allowances. that you can shake a stick at.
I’m sure residents of our fair borough look forward with bated breath to yet another “changed in direction”.
With council tax levels to be announced sometime in March and local elections during May, will the “not me guv” brigade decide to act pragmatically in the best interests of the electorate or choose to take the route of self-preservation?
Watch this space!
It was not the right time in 2017, 2016 and 2015 either but those rises are now in the bag.
The Labour Group sill continue to only accept allowances at the 2010 pre-austerity levels.
Wokingham Borough Labour has campaigned consistently against pay rises for councillors and I am delighted our campaigning has achieved the desired result. Just a little warning for the people who shop at Lidl on Molly Millars Lane.
My wife went there a couple of weeks ago and parked up.
She did her shopping and when she left she had apparently overstayed her welcome by a few minutes as they have signs saying no parking over 90 minutes, unlike every other supermarket who offer two hours parking, at least.
They also employ a third party company who use CCTV to give out tickets and who will not allow any appeal based on our word, the receipt having gone in the recycling.
So be aware of this practice or accept Lidl isn’t the cheap supermarket they claim to be.