You might remember our recent article discussing the concerns raised by Reading residents about the council’s decision to hike parking fees and scrap the 30-minute free parking offer at some car parks.

Now, Tilehurst’s Conservative representative, Councillor Raj Singh, is leading the charge for a change in direction. He’s launched a digital petition urging the Labour-led Reading Council to reconsider their decision.

Thousands have already signed the petition in protest against the council’s decision to remove the 30-minute free parking option at two of its car parks.

Tilehurst locals have seen firsthand the negative impact of the new parking charges at Dunstall Close and the Recreation car park. Businesses in the Triangle area are feeling the pinch, with fewer customers putting their survival at risk. This situation makes it harder for residents to access the everyday services they rely on.

The community is calling on Reading Council to think again and bring back the 30-minute free parking scheme. Doing so would ease the burden on local businesses and ensure residents can access essential services without hassle.

If you believe in supporting small businesses to keep our community thriving, please consider signing this petition.

The car park near Reading Station has been identified as the UK’s fifth most expensive, according to a recent study conducted by Moneybarn, a car finance company. The study examined parking costs at the busiest train stations across the UK for an eight-hour stay on weekdays to determine the most expensive train station car parks nationwide. Oxford claimed the top spot as the most expensive train station car park in Britain, with a cost of £31.50 for eight hours.

The car park at Reading Station, managed by private operator APCOA Parking, charges £21.00 for an eight-hour stay and is not affiliated with the station itself. This car park next to Reading Station was ranked joint fifth in terms of expense.

Below is a list of the most expensive train station car parks in the UK (excluding London).

Reading Station serves nearly 20 million passengers annually. When Reading West approached APCOA for comment, the company had not yet responded to provide a statement.

The Wren School in Reading has been recently rated as ‘requiring improvement’ after an inspection by Ofsted, highlighting areas within the institution that need enhancement. Previously, it held a grade of Good during the inspection.

Led by Principal John Salberg, the school, situated in Reading west, operates under the governance of the Excalibur Academies Trust, overseen by CEO Nicky Edmondson and a board of trustees chaired by Toby Watson.

According to the Ofsted report, there are several areas identified for improvement.

• Firstly, in certain subjects, crucial knowledge and skills essential for student learning have not been adequately identified and organized. This has resulted in challenges for teachers in determining the appropriate content to teach and when to teach it. To address this issue, the school must focus on further developing its curriculum to ensure students acquire key knowledge and skills across all subjects and key stages, including the sixth form.
• Secondly, some teachers have been found to employ ineffective strategies in aiding student learning, leading to suboptimal learning outcomes. It is imperative for school leaders to ensure that staff are equipped with effective teaching methods to introduce new learning materials and assist students in understanding and retaining the information taught.
• Furthermore, the school has been criticized for not consistently providing appropriate support for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), hindering their ability to thrive academically. To rectify this, the school must offer additional training and support for staff to ensure that all students, including those with SEND, receive the necessary assistance for success.
• Lastly, a minority of students were noted to exhibit a lack of focus on their learning, attributed to inconsistent application of the school’s behavior policy by some teachers. It is recommended that the school continues to integrate and enforce the new behavior system, ensuring consistent implementation by all staff members.

In response to these findings, the Wren School is expected to take proactive measures to address the identified areas for improvement, ultimately enhancing the overall learning experience for its students.

For further details, you can access the complete inspection report for Wren School by Ofsted at the following link: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/142121