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Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver In an open letter to the Basingstoke Observer, South Ham councillor Sean Keating discusses the impact of the big freeze on Basingstoke Further delays likely to rubbish collections RESIDENTS are being urged to be patient over delays to rubbish col- lections as crews struggle to make it to isolated areas in the snow. Borough council corporate director Karen Brinacombe said that while nor- mal service cannot be resumed just yet all safe roads will be targeted. She said: The bin collection teams are trying to do as much as they can, where it is safe to do so. This means that side roads that are inaccessible are unlikely to get collec- tions. The teams are doing their utmost to do as many collections as they can but are finding it really difficult in the con- tinuing icy and snowy conditions. We will simply not be able to collect anything like the 20,000 bins that we normally do in a day. Any information we have on the areas most likely to get collections next will be published on our website or will be available via our contact centre. Please bear with us and help us to help you as much as possible by putting our your bins, where it is safe to do so and where they are accessible to the crews. I understand that householders whose bins have been missed for a con- siderable time owing to the bad weather and Christmas will be collect- ing considerable amounts of rubbish and recycling. For more information, call the council on 01256 844844. Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 7 Our councils let us down Dear Sir, MAY I start by expressing my praise and gratitude to council grounds people for their dedica- tion in helping us all? But three times over the last 12 months, last February and in December and January, the whole town ground to a halt because of snow. Before Christmas, I was shocked to see our entire road network gridlocked what hap- pened to our councils emer- gency plans? It might be fair to say the rain washed away the grit on December 21 but the whole response from both the county and borough councils was just a reaction. Where was the planning, lead- ership and coordination on the ground to tackle to the situation? The county and borough coun- cils were seen to fail us all. Over 2,000 car were stranded on our principal roads. What I did see were acts of such generosity by so many peo- ple, helping push cars and sup- porting people trapped because they couldnt get home and neighbours looking out for neighbours a real community spirit. But since the snow there have been real problems. Where was the plan to deter- mine which areas were a prior- ity for the borough when scarce resources have to be deployed? When extra grit bins were requested last February, Labour was told at a full council meeting not to waste its time with such trivial stuff. Now the same political party is belatedly campaigning for more grit bins. One of the most worrying issues was that of pathways cov- ered by ice that many older resi- dents had to face. People could- nt walk safely to the shops or to the bus stop. The design of the 1960s estates means many have only one main road running Cllr Sean Keating through them and they are not always cleared. Residents in South Ham have been contacting me to express their anger over the three weeks they have had to wait for a bin collection, and many are still waiting for a green bin collection (now being carried out). I know that all over the town the fact that most people havent seen a waste collection in nearly a month is a serious issue. You can understand the need for safety in the immediate after- math of the snow over Christmas and the New Year. Yet the decision to ignore the bins which had been missed was a nonsense. The decision seems to have been made without any notice or consultation, even with the cabinet member. The councils have got to do better than this they need to plan better and be prepared to take action. What responsibility does the county and borough council take? Are there gaps in responsibility, where areas and streets are left because neither authority responded? They have a lot of questions to answer about why the situation was allowed to become such a mess. We need a full and public review of our towns prepared- ness for this kind of bad weather. Councillor Sean Keating South Ham Ward READING WAREHOUSES LIMITED STOCK SALE SAVE 170 5 YEAR SONY 32 TV GUARANTEE HD READY WAS NOW 549 ONLY BIG BIG 32 LCD TV HD READY FREEVIEW ONLY 299 LG 42PQ3000 42 PLASMA SAVE 100 SAVE 50 600 Hz SCANNING FREEVIEW WAS 599.99 SAVE 150 SAMSUNG 42 PLASMA HD READY WAS 599.99 449 .99 ONKYO SAMSUNG CS435 HTBD1220 BLURAY SAVE 50 399 CORDLESS PHONE NOW ONLY BT GRAPHITE 1100 19 WITH VCR DECK FREEVIEW TOSHIBA SAVE 110 5 YEAR DVR19DT SONY 26 TV GUARANTEE DVD RECORDER 499 WAS 249 HIFI & iPOD DOCK 199 SURROUND KIT 349 HD READY WAS NOW 459 ONLY HALF PRICE EXTRA 10 BUOYANT ROMA OFF NATHAN GFA LAS VEGAS PANACHE IN BROWN OR CREAM 199 349 CAMEO HUDSON 3 SEATER SOFA & 2 CHAIRS IN BROWN HIDE NOW ONLY 399 SAVE 800 NOW ONLY 3 SEATER & 2 SEATER SOFA S IN LILAC WHEN BUYING CRAZY TABLE & 4 CHAIRS PRICE HALOGEN HEATERS FROM 8.99 CONVECTOR HEATERS FROM 16.19 FAN HEATERS FROM 9.89 OIL FILLED RADIATORS FROM 26.99 + GET 2 CHAIRS FREE FURNITURE LEATHER RECLINER CHAIR & FOOTSTOOL 999 2 DRAWER BEDSIDES FROM ONLY 48 WELCOME FURNITURE SAVE 20 199 HIGH SEAT CHAIRS VARIOUS COLOURS NOW ONLY 159 SAVE TOYS, 10 ON ALL LINENS, TOOLS, HOUSEWARES & SMALL ELECTRICALS FREE CHIMNEY HOOD WORTH 324.99 WITH BELLING DB4 90CM RANGE COOKER WASHING MACHINES FROM ONLY No one could have foreseen this weather BASINGSTOKES environ- ment chief, Cllr Elaine Still, has responded to Cllr Keatings remarks, saying the council had done what it could. Bin collections resumed after a month-long hiatus this week but Cllr Still said the council cannot be held responsible for the unprecedented weather. She said: From December 21, we have had severe weather and no one could expect the binmen to come out as the conditions were treacherous. But before we could catch up, we had the heavy snow fall. The good news now is that bin crews are now out in rural areas trying to clear the backlog. I dont think anybody could have expected the severe weather that we have had the council has been playing catch up ever since. Some rural areas have not had their recycling bins col- lected for four or five weeks now and I am one of these people. But, fortunately, recycling is dry material and will not go off all we can do is apologise but we cannot control the weather. There is a lot of community spirit around and I am sure the grit bins would be used if there were more of them, so we need a thorough review. SAVE 250 BELLING 665BLK ELECTRIC COOKER 60CM CERAMIC COOKER WITH HALOGEN DOUBLE OVEN NOW ONLY 179.99 3 LEXUS SGS43T92 SPRUNG EDGE 4 6 SAVOY DISHWASHER NOW ONLY 179 .99 2 DRAWER POCKET SPRUNG ONLY 299.99 DIVAN SET 4 DRAWER DIVAN SET ONLY DYSON DC14i UPRIGHT VACUUM CLEANER SAVE 200 DORLUX REST ASSURED BOSCH CUMFILUX 3 SINGLE HOTPOINT HVL241 4 6 GEORGIA BEDSTEADS 1400 SPIN 179 NOW ONLY 299 SAVE 50 A RATED WASHING MACHINE 16 PROGRAMMES NOW ONLY 249 .99 279 PRICE PROMISE READING WAREHOUSES 399 ONLY We promise at the time of your purchase that if you could have bought the new and boxed product from stock cheaper locally, then we will match the price or refund the difference, if claimed within seven days. 4 DRAWER DIVAN SET FROM 59 MATTRESSES FROM ONLY 59 NEW ROAD Web: www.readingwarehouses.c OPENING HOURS: MON-THURS & SAT 9.00am-5.30pm. FRI 9.00am-8.00pm SUN 10.30am-4.30pm TADLEY New Road TEL 0118 981 4188 Email: salesreadingwarehouses Rowan Road Tadley Swimming Pool BASINGSTOKE A34 0 Easy to pick up... hard to put down Raj 2009 GOOD FOOD WINNERS FULLY AIR CONDITIONED Home Delivery Available, Tel: 01256 818450/819246 1 Rucstall Centre, Rembrandt Close (Holbein Close), Black Dam, Basingstoke Indian Cuisine www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 201 2 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Basingstoke Observer 2nd Floor, Paddington House, Festival Place, Basingstoke RG21 7LG Newsdesk Group Editor: Hartley Milner Senior Reporter: Simon Moss Telephone: 01256 694122 newsyourbasing Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 3 CARRY ON CARING IN THE BIG FREEZE WITH the borough still in the grip of an arctic chill residents have been praised for their sense of community spirit. And with no signs of a thaw, county bo 4 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver W O N 39 LL 9 CA 29 A E TE S FR I E CURTAIN COMPANY Trade suppliers to: New homes builders and new home buyers SALE THE U.K. SALE 3 ES T AND NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (01256) 329939 We Measure - Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 5 Police renew bid to crack murder case HAMPSHIRE police have issued an appeal for informa- tion about the brutal murder of a grandmother two years after her death. Georgina Edmonds was found b 6 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver o t Credi d Free ry Be n Eve DS EN M Y 8PM ONDA uble ng do n spri mattress ope fted - This u ice. dante th a hand-t lievable pr 99 An 4 unbe set wi Was divan ffered at an is o Everything you Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver In an open letter to the Basingstoke Observer, South Ham councillor Sean Keating discusses the impact of the big freeze on Basingstoke Further delays likely to rubbish collections RESIDENTS are being urged to be patient over delays to rubbish col 8 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver NEWS BITES Talking point HISTORY buffs should get along to a meeting in the town centre next week. Friends of the Willis Museum will meet at the Top-of-the-Town venue on Thursday at 7.30pm. T Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 9 SPECIAL PRICE OFFER SPECIAL PRICE OFFER SPECIAL SPECIAL PRICE OFFER SPECIAL PRICE OFFER E Y AV G S ER N E WINTER SALE LIMITED PERIOD ONLY CAVITY WALL & LOFT INSULATION SPECIAL PRICE OFFE 10 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Ne 0 Ra 201 w plu nges Late the s ves t Sto s SHOWROOM OPEN Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sundays 9.00am to 5.00pm 9.00am to 5.00pm 9.00am to 5.00pm 9.00am to 5.00pm 9.00 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 11 Chilling attack A COUPLE building a snow- man were viciously attacked by thugs. Police have described the inci- dent in Basingstoke as a nasty attack and have appealed for help finding the g 12 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver SALE TABLES SALE CHAIRS SALE COFFEE TABLES SALES DISPLAY CABINETS SALE DRESSERS SALE TV UNITS SALE OAK FURNITURE SALE PINE FURNITURE SALE MATTRESSS Warehouse Direct STARTS SATURDAY 16 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 13 Green Matters! with Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment Cllr Elaine Still NEWS BITES Stay active call HAMPSHIRE County Council bosses are encouraging eld- erly residents to 14 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver NEWS BITES Samaritans plea A BASINGSTOKE SOS group is appealing for volunteers. Basingstoke Samaritans needs 100 more volunteers. Branch director Sue Fendall said: We have supported the Basi Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 15 GROUNDWORKS LTD Patios, Drives, Paving & Brickwork Foundations, concreting Roadworks Land Drainage, Surfacing Plant Hire Fully Insured J&M Best of Basingstoke HANDMADE CABINETRY TO REAL 16 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver University study available in Basingstoke We offer full-time and part-time study Foundation degrees Top-up degrees Professional Postgraduate Study is flexible with teaching available in the www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 17 Weddings Feature Advertising Feature OAKLEY LIMOUSINES Established family business All events catered for Competitive pricing Full uniformed chauffeurs LUXURY AT YOUR FINGER TIPS W edding Fair The Hampshire Court Hot 18 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 www.yourbasingstoke.co. Competitions more competitions online at www.basingstokeobserver Win: Arden Grange pet food A REAL taste of the Arctic is coming to Aviemore. On 23rd and 24th January, the Aviemore Sled Dog Rally will see more than 250 t Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 19 Fine Jewellery Fine Jewellery JE LL W AM o EL B f LE ER f RY UNIQUE NEW and ANTIQUE JEWELLERY Ideal for Gifts, Weddings and Engagements 30 A 4 Wote Street, By the Haymarket. 4 Wote Street, 20 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Read this newspaper online at www.basingstokeobserver A selection of great value Travel Offers! * ee to rd Fr rren t ca So oun sc di Lake Garda Sparkling Italian Jewel Flying direct from Bournemouth Departs May, June & September 2010 Join us on Send us details of your event online at www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 21 Entertainment&Leisure To advertise in this section telephone 01256 694125 CHARITY EVENTS WORKSHOPS TALKS SPORTS ARTS THEATRE MUSIC OUTDOOR EVENTS CINEMA RESTAURANTS FAMILY EVENTS T Entertainment&Leisure CHARITY EVENTS WORKSHOPS TALKS SPORTS 22 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Send us details of your event online at www.basingstokeobserver ARTS THEATRE MUSIC OUTDOOR EVENTS CINEMA RESTAURANTS FAMILY EVENTS To advertise in this section please call 01256 694125 Entertainment&Leisure CHARITY EVENTS WORKSHOPS TALKS SPORTS Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 23 ARTS THEATRE MUSIC OUTDOOR EVENTS CINEMA RESTAURANTS FAMILY EVENTS To advertise in this section please call 01256 694125, find out more at www.basingstokeobserver To place a free event 24 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 Send us details of your event online at www.basingstokeobserver www.basingstokeobserver Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 25 AUTOWEEKLY BASINGSTOKE Cars & light commercial CAR SUPERCENTRE MOT 29.95 On Presentation Of This Advert Authorised Brake Test Centre CARS URGENTLY WANTED TOP CASH PAID M & K AUTOS, BASINGSTOKE Your local buyer based in K 26 Thursday January 14th - Wednesday January 20th, 2010 AUTOWEEKLY 06 06 PER MONTH Weve cleared the snow, now we must clear our stock! Save thousands of pounds on your next car in our January Sale y ! rr N! Hu W O NO 89 PEUGEOT 1007 1.4 WAS 5495 SAVE 1500 Cash Price ....................... Deposit.. 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The area surrounding Planet Ice was deemed unsafe and a decision