Standing up for Southcote

Southcote Scene has been printed and distributed by Labour members in Southcote since 1984, in an attempt to keep residents informed as to what was going on in and around the ward and about our campaigns to make things better for local people.

Pete Ruhemann was elected as Southcote’s first Labour Councillor in 1985, and Christine Howell joined him in 1986.  Labour failed to win the seat in 1987, but has won every local election here since.  Pete was re-elected in 2011, and the other members of the team are Debs Edwards, currently Mayor of Reading who is standing for re-election this year, and John Ennis, who is Lead Councillor for Education and Children's Services. Southcote also played a big part in Martin Salter’s election as Labour MP for Reading West in 1997, and he worked hard for local people over the next twelve years.

The many issues of Southcote Scene over the last 26 years or so have covered a huge range of matters: the battles to protect Kennet Meadows, the New Lane Hill Conservation Area, new children’s play areas, the major improvements that we secured in the Council housing stock, the Burghfield Road pedestrian crossing and many other road safety measures, the Neighbourhood Advice Centre in Coronation Square, the bringing together of Manor Infant and Junior Schools, the improvements to the Youth & Community Centre, the May Fayres and Christmas Parties, the birth and growth of SITE, the Liebenrood Road traffic lights, the new Children’s Centre, the 50^th birthday of Southcote Primary School, a raft of planning issues from Prospect School across to Elvian School, planning and licensing concerns round the Parkside Hotel, the huge investments at Prospect and Blessed Hugh and the improved performance there, gypsies on Granville Road and anti-social behaviour outside the YMCA, the campaign to expand Circuit Lane Surgery, the saga of the Bellway applications at the Underwood Road precinct, the campaign to force improvements to the Alan Place flats, and many many more. 

We made sure you read about them all in Southcote Scene and we kept you updated as the stories unfolded: this the 26^th year in which we have been able to say that together we have stopped the bulldozers getting into Kennet Meadows!

But a written publication that comes round usually five times a year, with occasional more local editions, does have real limitations in keeping people in touch, and we are pleased that we have been able to take Southcote Scene on-line, which will let us provide rapid up-dates and will also offer you the community space to advertise your own events.  We hope you find it useful and look forward to your feedback!

With best wishes from your three Labour Councillors,

Deborah Edwards

We need your help! Please consider getting involved to help us stand up to the Conservatives and their Liberal Democrat supporters