Category: Wokingham and West Berkshire Issues

    On Friday I visited the newly reorganised Tesco in Wokingham, to give some  computers to local primary schools that Tesco provided through their voucher collection scheme. Parents can make a contribution to local school equipment by shopping in the store.

         During the discussion with the children I learnt from them  that shopping was fun if as a child you can influence what is bought, and that their Dads did not seem to do much shopping. I learnt from Tesco that they have completed removing non food items from the Wokingham superstore, so they can extend their food ranges with special emphasis on fresh produce.

         It was good to see a large local business giving something back to the local community from its successful trading.

             The contributions to this debate have exposed the disagreements between residents, based on  the understandable consideration of whether their children will be able to go to the school or not as a result of the changes.

              I regarded this as a local issue which should be settled by Councillors. They have the power to make the decision, and the officers and consultants to help them make it. As MP I am given no power and no such assistance to settle these matters.

             During the consultation process by the Council I did intervene at the request of constituents. Appreciating the division of opinion between constituents depending on where they lived, I confined my intervention to arguing that the Council should maximise the number of Wokingham Borough children attending. Reading children can go to their expensive new Academy recently provided. I intervened on this issue because it was the view of most of my constituents. I needed to counter the representations made by the MP for Reading East who was putting forward the views of some of his constituents who wished to send their children to Maiden Erlegh.

               The decision to overturn the Council’s decision by the Secretary of State has meant that a local matter has become a matter settled  nationally.  The losers from the Secretary of State’s decision are naturally upset by his action. I  am unhappy that the Secretary of State has interfered, as I have been assured by Ministers that they believe in localism and wish elected Councils to make these sorts of decisions. I am therefore taking  this up with him, as I wish to understand why it happened and whether this will be a future pattern, the statements on localism notwithstanding.  

                 It is for the Council to decide if it wishes to take legal action to challenge the revised decision. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen is asking a question in Council and will be following up. It would take a successful legal challenge to overturn the latest decision.

        I object strongly to Mr Gove intervening in the decison over the Maiden Erlegh catchment. He advocates localism, so he should  not second guess local decisions like this. I am pursuing this matter with him.

             The draft proposals from the independent Boundary Commission make  no changes to the current Wokingham constituency.

             I welcome this. The huge changes put through in 1997 have taken time to settle down.Some voters in West Berkshire who joined the constituency in 1997 found it difficult at first to adjust to dealing with West Berks Council in Newbury for local government, whilst joining with   Wokingham  for Parliamentary matters. They wrote in opposition to the changes, but the Boundary Commission stuck to their v iew.

           If the draft proposals remain and are implemented no-one in our area has to change allegiance and learn about a new set up.

           I have been receiving a number of emails drafted as part of a national camapign from constituents, urging me to ensure the new planning policy protects areas of landscape value. The new Planning Policy does keep safe Green Belt, ANOB and SSSI designaitons, all national areas of prtotection which will remain. It also allows Councils to perotect other areas from development.

           As constituents will know, I have always been a keen advocate of protecting many of Wokingham’s remaining greenfields. This proved difficult under the previous planning policy, where top down housing targets forced development on flood plain and in other unsuitable locations through the system of appeals against Council decisions.

            I also wish to see sufficient new homes available, as I strongly support home ownership and wish a new generation of young people to have the opportunity to acquire their own homes. The new Planning Policy should allow these two important aims to be reconciled at the local level. Instead of regional and naitonal government deciding how many homes will be built in each Council area, and awarding planning permissions on appeal whatever local feeling may be, the main driver of the new system is the local Plan.

             Local Councils can under local Plans decide how many homes should be built and where they should be built. By definition this also means they can decide where new development is not permitted. Wokingham Council already has a local Plan. Councillors have proposed substantial new development in four main locations. In  order to protect the rest of the District and to get the full benefits they see from more concentrated development they need to  make sure their local Plan gives the proper Plan protections to the rest of our greenfields. They will have my full support in doing this.

          I will of course support local communities and the Council on appeal should green areas be subject to planning demands by developers. It will only be possible to win these appeals if the local Plan is clear about the areas that are being protected.

            I was informed about the fire  on Wednesday evening, as I was spending the day in Westminster as Parliament is in session.  I was glad to hear that no-one was hurt, and that the Fire Brigade had done a good job bringing it under control. I was also pleased to see yesterday when I did visit the site that the Fire Brigade had stopped the fire from  leaping beyond the detached office building  to damage other buildings in the area. The building was ready for redevelopment as flats at the time, so disruption to the public is limited.

         I trust the builders can retain the important historic facade with suitable strengthening for the brick structure. I would be happy to take up any issues arising from this local emergency, if the owners need assistance. We are all grateful to the fire fighters for once again doing a good job.

          Yesterday I took the day off to play cricket for the Lords and Commons. The MPs  were invited to Sutton Valence to play against a Lashings International XI where the qualification to play for all but one of their  players was success at Test level. We knew we would be well out of our depth.

           Rain delayed the start, so it was decided to make it a 20/20 fixture. As it turned out it was a great day for all. The Test stars were never seriously tested, but the final scores were respectable from the Commons point of view. Lashings made 155-4 and the Commons replied with 111-7.  We were grateful that the Lashings team bowled mainly spin, sparing us pace beyond our comfort zone. The spin was fast enough and effective enough.

         I bowled three overs for 12 runs. It was an experience bowling to talented Test level batsmen who were advancing down the wicket as I came into bowl, determined to make even a good ball into a half volley.  I was not out at the end and ran out Mohammad Yousuf with the help of Guy Opperman our wicket keeper .  I never expected to be playing against him, when I remember his great achievement as a batsman for Pakistan. Watching his fine hitting was a pleasure – he was their top scorer. Our captain Nigel Admas was man of the match for taking wickets and hitting a lively 24. He led us well by example.

           I went to see the CAB in Wokingham on 31st August. It was a pleasure to meet volunteers who give so generously of their time and expertise. I thanked them on behalf of the local community.

           They reported that debt remains the number one problem people  bring to them, closely followed by benefit claims. I reminded them that where there are a number of similar problems and it seems to them that the underlying government policy or law might be at fault, I would be happy to have a look at it and take it up with Ministers.

           Yesterday afternoon I took a break from the Euro crisis to play cricket.  Wokingham challenged Reading East.

           It turned out to be a close fought and exciting match. The players  dodged the showers. The bowlers got plenty of turn, seam movement and swing from the slightly green wicket and the atmosphere.

        Wokingham won the toss and elected to bowl. Wokingham bowled Reading East out for 107 runs, in a little less than the 35 overs allotted. It was a good performance by the bowlers, with Anthony Pollock, a slow spinner of the ball, carrying off 3 wickets. Reading East were well led by their Captain, Rob Wilson, who was difficult to dislodge as one of  their opening batsman. Their team had a long batting tail, which proved more vulnerable.

        When it was Wokingham’s turn to bat they  discovered it was not easy. Reading East had a great bowling line up, including some lively and promising young players who posed all sorts of problems for Wokingham’s  occasional batsmen. Reading’s bowling attack was pacier than Wokingham’s, and was also capable of getting some movement of the ball.

         The match went down to the last over, with Wokingham needing three runs and Reading East needing just two wickets for victory. Wokingham kept their nerve and managed to score what was needed. What had seemed like a modest run chase had proved testing. No one watching could  be sure until the last over which team would win. Reading East had come very close to up ending Wokingham’s batting.

           Highlight of the day was the team tea provided by Hilary Pollock and her helpers. A cake commemorated the occasion, with a cricket pitch and two batsmen iced on.

Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): As the Secretary of State is proposing to close the large Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers garrison at Arborfield in my constituency, will he ensure that the officials working on the disposal, who aim to make a substantial capital gain for new housing, will understand that some of the money will be needed for transport and educational facilities for the large new settlement they have in mind?

The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Liam Fox): I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his support and understanding on this issue and know that he will be disappointed that the units are being moved out of Arborfield. We intend to achieve that in a measured way by 2014-15. I am sure that discussions will be ongoing with the local authority on the financial implications he has pointed out.