News

• Paddling pool open from Saturday 27 May
• Open seven days a week

• Summer Reading Challenge 2023 launches on 8 July
• Volunteers sought aged 14-18 who are enthusiastic about reading
• Opportunity to develop new skills and work experience

• Open to the public from 17 July 2023
• Facilities include a 6-court sports hall and a 120-station gym with 3 studios, soft play activity zone with party rooms and cafe
• Swimming pools will follow in summer 2024

• Next phase of the Council’s two-year, £26 million-pound investment to improve Reading’s bus service and bus infrastructure
• Ambition to make travelling by bus in Reading faster with fewer delays
• Six new bus lanes earmarked at key locations

• A total of 73 residents did not return to a polling station to vote after initially being turned away for not having an acceptable form of identification
• Impact could potentially be higher as the figure for the number of residents who chose not to vote this year as a result of new Voter ID laws is not known
• 99.7% of residents who attended a polling station on May 4 were able to cast a vote

• Council Leader announces proposed new Administration for the year ahead
• Appointments will be ratified at the Council's AGM next Wednesday, where a new Mayor will also be confirmed

• Proposed new Deputy Leader of the Council and Mayoral nomination announced for the new Municipal Year
• All appointments to be ratified at the Council’s AGM on Wednesday May 24 at Reading Town Hall

• The Armoured Heart sculpture is a symbol of peace and hope which stands against knife crime
• Young people from Starting Point charity worked with local artist Stuart Melrose on the project
• Sculpture will be followed by an ongoing educational outreach programme to challenge knife culture

Gaia created from NASA imagery comes to Reading this summer and an exciting programme of events has just been announced.

• The first new station in Reading since Reading West opened on 1 July 1906
• Now due to open on 27 May

• Council has objected to TfL proposals to withdraw the current one-day travelcard for Reading residents travelling into London
• Withdrawal of the ticket would result in a 31% increase for an off-peak return from Reading to Paddington with zones 1-6 Tube travel

Residents, who have an interest in sustainable fashion, are being invited to take part in a borough wide event to design and showcase their own piece of sustainable fashion.