Twyford

Sunday 3rd June, Recreation Ground, Twyford. 1.30pm ( Approx )

As a new venture this year we are holding a Grand Balloon Race where up to 1000 balloons will be released with prizes of £50 for the owner whose balloon travels the furthest distance and also for the finder of that balloon.

Tickets cost £1 and are available at various shops in the village including Brightons, Newberrys, Video Inn, Twyford Interiors, Hodge Podge and Sheeplands Farm Shop.

Alternatively contact Johnny Stevens on 0118 9342170 or Martin Hillier on 0118 9345735.

We will be running the above event for the thirteenth year and as normal has a provisional start time of 1.30pm. We are always hopeful that some other village groups will be represented at the fair, especially after last year’s success. Charity pitches are available from £10 and Commercial stands from £20.

The Maidenhead Band will once again be in attendance to give us some rousing tunes.

This year the money raised will of course be going towards Project Phoenix – The final phase of the new Twyford Scout HQ.

The expected programme, subject to final confirmation, is as follows:

• Laser Quest
  
• Donkey Derby, sponsor a donkey for £10 and be a winning owner
  
• Refreshments & BBQ
  
• The locally famous Crisp Drop ( subject to weather conditions and mechanical breakdowns )
  
• Beer Tent, Bouncy castle, Battery powered Dodgems, Fun Fair, Miniature railway
  
• Ferret Racing
  
• Go Karts &Various side stalls
  

Charity pitches available from £10

Commercial stands from £20

• Grand Raffle
  
• Maidenhead Marching Band
  

Aircraft flypast:- This year we are promised a Spitfire and Hurricane, weather and mechanical problems permitting of course.

1st Twyford Scout Group

Following the summer’s announcement of Wokingham District Council’s leisure, sport and recreation strategy, plans are being developed to improve the quality of facilities offered to visitors at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Hurst.

The council is looking at all activities currently offered on the site, including the Hurst country park, golf course and catering facilities with the aim of finding ways to ensure that it is meeting the needs of all of its customers, and potential customers, in the best way, whilst making the optimum use of the resources available.

To this end, on Thursday January 25, the council’s decision-making executive is being asked to consider bringing the running of the golf course and café in-house. If given the go-ahead, the plan is to centralise the catering facilities in one building (where the Tea Cosy Café is at the moment) and update the facilities to include an improved seating area, better serving area and providing two new heated and covered outdoor areas, with patios. A licensed bar would also be installed, offering customers the opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine or beer, if they wish to.

The Hurst golf course would be renumbered to start and finish close to the café, with easier access to the practice area and plans to install new practice nets.

The new facilities would cater for both golfers and café users, with their own dedicated areas. Offering improvements in service to both groups, it is intended that the combined facilities will provide a more efficient and effective service and significantly improve the income generated by the café and golf course.

Countryside service team leader Chris Buggy said: “The council is looking at its leisure and recreation centres across the district and considering how it can improve them for the future. Should the executive give the proposals the green light, we are planning to update Dinton Pastures’ catering facilities, bring them together and offer improved surroundings with increased overall seating area, a better layout, longer opening hours for café users and locally-produced food.

“Anyone wanting to find out more can see the displays at the Country Park or the clubhouse at Hurst Golf Course and pick up a question and answer leaflet, or visit the council website at www.wokingham.gov.uk.”

There are longer-term aspirations for further improvements in future years. Subject to future council decisions and funding, these could include making the planned catering arrangements permanent with a full extension to the building.

The council is also looking at the activities provided at the park with a view to improving the range of water activities.

Executive member for corporate services Cllr Rob Stanton said: “We really need to be making the most of the opportunities on offer at Dinton Pastures, so that we have a firm foundation for plans for the future. Should these proposals for changes to the catering facilities get the go-ahead, I hope that visitors to the Park will start to see improvements almost immediately.”

If the executive approves the proposals, it is anticipated that building work will begin in February, with the aim of having the new facilities in place in April.

Wokingham District Council ~ Hurst

As you may know I held a meeting with Alison Forster, Managing Director of FGW today. In fact I had two – I met with Alison Forster and her FGW team to discuss specifically the needs of Maidenhead and Twyford and the branch lines; and after that I joined a group of Thames Valley MPs in a meeting with FGW on wider issues. Both meetings were robust with FGW being left in no doubt about the strength of feeling among passengers and MPs

In both meetings Ms Forster spent a great deal of time reiterating that FGW are investing a great deal in new trains which (fingers crossed) we should benefit from after December 2007. Obviously I am concerned that commuters will have to wait 11 months to see these benefits. Once again FGW tried to shift the blame by commenting that reduced services were due to Department of Transport specifications. Undoubtedly the Government has played a role as its specification did reduce services, but FGW can offer enhanced services and indeed Alison Forster commented that if there was a commercial case to extend services, the DFT would not be likely to stand in FGW's way. Well, what could be a better business case than answering the needs of your customers?

A number of you have asked why they can't simply go back to the old timetable. They explained that they could not reinstate the previous timetable because it would be too complex as it affects other companies' services e.g. they had been prevented from making a particular change because of the insertion of a freight train into the timetable for the track.

In my personal meeting, apart from raising the general points about overcrowding, lack of enough fast and semi-fast services and the problems of delays and cancellations, I spent a great deal of time explaining that the changes to the timetable coming in next Monday would not benefit Maidenhead and Twyford. However FGW are convinced that by providing another service to Oxford at 07.33, fewer people will be tempted to take the earlier trains at 06.45 (07.26 at Twyford and 07.35 at Maidenhead) and 07.05 (07.40 at Twyford and 07.50 at Maidenhead). Personally I do not think 06.45 passengers will use a service at 07.33, and therefore the 07.26/07.35 is now bound to face the same overcrowding as other services. Hopefully there will be some benefit for the slightly later service - do let me know if the 07.40/07.50 is any less crowded. If not, I shall be sure to get back to Ms Forster. They also believe that cutting some stops out of the 06.42 from Twyford (06.49 from Maidenhead) will mean there will be more seats at our stations on this train.

With regards to the punctuality of the 07.26 now it starts at Oxford, FGW say that as it comes from Oxford already (albeit without passengers) there is no reason why it should be less reliable.- again, please do keep me informed of whether the 0726 is any less reliable.

I also raised the problems in the evening services. No change was offered here, indeed FGW still seem to think that there are sufficient services at peak times. They are prepared to look at this in the longer term.

In the second meeting Ms Forster expanded on the process for the January 2007 timetable. As we know the cut off date for the consultation process is 18th January. This is in fact the date when FGW are presenting their proposals to Network Rail. She admitted that FGW already have an idea of what the December 2007 timetable will look like, and when pressed she commented that it will not be ‘radically different’ from the 2006 timetable.

However, it is not all bad news; Ms Forster later agreed to look into letting MPs see the draft of the December 2007 timetable so we can add our comments, and furthermore conceded that minor changes to both the 2006 and 2007 timetables could be made at later points in the year.

As you can expect, I will be continuing my campaign to improve services to Maidenhead and Twyford. I am working with other Thames Valley MPs to secure a meeting with FGW, Network Rail and the Transport Minister. With all three present they will no longer be able to simply point the finger of blame and avoid taking any action. We will also be writing to the Health and Safety Executive to urge them to look into the crowding on FGW trains. (There are currently no guidelines for crowding on commuter trains – however there are rules on overcrowding of chickens on trains!). And we have asked FGW to provide us with capacity numbers for peak non-stop and stopping trains as well as the volume of complaints for each area FGW cover. I am sure these will bring to light FGWs appalling record of responding to customer needs.

Furthermore I have secured a debate in the House of Commons where I shall personally raise the issue of FGW trains to Maidenhead and Twyford; this will take place in a couple of weeks and I am looking for more opportunities to debate FGW incompetence in Parliament.

I’d like to that all of you who have sent their comments to FGW. I urge you all to keep them coming to FGW (fgw.feedback@firstgroup.com) and to myself (mayt@parliament.uk). We need to make them see that the services to Maidenhead and Twyford are simply no good. To add some pictorial proof to your emails, if anyone has a camera phone, why don’t you to take photos of the overcrowding and send them with your emails. I showed a few pictures of the current overcrowding to Alison Forster today and, as they say, a picture says a thousand words!

As I final note a study of the FGW Passenger Charter shows that FGW claim that passengers should not normally have to stand for more than 20 minutes (or more than one station stop if this is longer). They are clearly not upholding this part of their Charter. Unfortunately they do not offer any compensation to standard class ticket holders who have to stand longer than 20 minutes, but they do offer a part refund for First Class travellers – do take advantage of this opportunity. FGW do not offer the service that their towering prices suggest, and the more we can make them realise this, the more likely we are of finally getting the train service we deserve.

Yours Sincerely,


The Rt Hon Theresa May MP
January 12, 2007

A meeting between MPs and rail operator First Great Western (FGW) has failed to resolve a bitter dispute over train services in Oxfordshire, Twyford and Berkshire.

A new timetable introduced by FGW has been heavily criticised by Twyford passengers and local MPs who described it as "an unmitigated disaster".

No deal was agreed at the summit and there is now a call for the company to face penalty fines over its service.

FGW said it had listened and was now trying to improve its performance.

Richard Rowland, FGW regional manager, told BBC News: "What we've been able to do since the 11 December, following our review, is make a number of changes which we are introducing on Monday.

"And that's increasing the number of services from Oxford - that increases the capacity available from Didcot, and also Twyford and Maidenhead.

"And also following today, what we have agreed with the MPs is to increase the capacity from the Newbury to Reading line and that we'll be doing that as soon as we can which is going to be around about April."

But Ed Vaizey, Conservative MP for Wantage and Didcot said the meeting had been "a complete waste of time".

"There were nine or 10 MPs in the room representing the commuters of the Thames Valley from all parties. We really didn't get anywhere."

'Chronic overcrowding'

Richard Benyon, Conservative MP for Newbury, agreed no progress had been.

"I don't feel that we're any further forward. I don't think First Great Western have really taken on board the level of unhappiness out there.

"Inflation busting fare increase, staggering overcrowding, fewer trains - it's just a really sorry tale for thousands of passengers."

Martin Salter, MP for Reading West, claimed people were leaving the railways in droves because of "chronic overcrowding".

"We can't hold out any realistic prospect of improvement for our constituents until April or May at the earliest."

BBC News ~ Twyford

For the last two days Monday 8/1/07 & Tuesday 9/1/07 the 1642 train from Langley to Twyford has been cancelled.

You may recall that in December against our combined complaints we, the customers, had a new time table forced on us by FGW with promises of more 'transforming travel' and the elimination of late, cancelled and over crowded trains to and from Twyford.

The immediate practical difference it made to me is that I have about half the number of available trains to and from Twyford and Langley during the morning and afternoon peak periods. Meaning that these arbitrary cancellations are even more disruptive.

Anyway both yesterday and today I checked on your website before leaving to catch the train at Langley using your "Live Departures and Arrivals. Uses latest train information provided by National Rail Enquiries, showing the latest arrival and departure times for all trains from your selected station." to make sure that the trains I intended to catch had left Paddington. On both days they did, all be it late, but hey it is FGW.

Anyway just minutes before each was due to arrive an automated announcement came on at Langley to say they had been cancelled. Strangely on both days trains looking just like the one I would have caught passed through platform three at Langley heading towards Reading but without stopping. On both days when the 1712 trains arrived they were overcrowded and late by the time they got to Twyford. It was only last month I met with Richard Rowland at Twyford who assured me that this time I could believe the FGW promises about actually improving their abysmal standards. Since then the only change has been yet another price rise.

Can you tell me please. Did the trains actually run but just not bothering to stop at Langley and pick up incidentals like passengers? Or were the trains actually cancelled and the information about them leaving Paddington false?

More promises from FGW: Extra trains to ease overcrowding

Rail operator First Great Western is to put on extra early morning services in response to complaints of overcrowding and train cancellations.

The move follows the introduction of a widely-criticised new timetable.

More trains will be run early on the Oxford to Paddington line and capacity will be increased for Twyford and Maidenhead customers.

There will be more than 100 extra seats for customers travelling between Frome, West Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol.

'Rural connections'

Alison Forster, managing director of First Great Western (FGW), said: "We recognise that some elements of the timetable have not met all our customers' needs.

"We apologise to those customers who have experienced crowding and train cancellations on some key services."

Travellers in rural areas will benefit from better-timed connections on some branch lines to ensure connections with main line services.

Ms Forster promised the company would continue to review the timetable introduced in December.

She said FGW would consider making further changes in particular for customers using Bedwyn or Newbury to Reading services, over the next few months.

A backlog of maintenance work, which had been causing capacity problems in the Bristol and Bath area would be addressed by "pulling out all the stops" and recruiting additional maintenance engineers.

"I'm confident that this will improve the reliability of our services and therefore seating capacity over the next couple of weeks," she said.

The additional services will start on 15 January.

BBC News

New Hope for Library in Village Centre?

Your local Lib Dem councillors are trying to persuade the District Council to make a bid for Lottery funding for a new library in the centre of Twyford.
Bids can be made by councils for part of £80 million available nationally for libraries. If Wokingham District Council were to make a bid, the J W Greens site, still on the market at the time of writing, would be an ideal location in Twyford.
Last year your district councillors and many members of the local community campaigned for the council to acquire the J W Greens site. The Conservative leader of council claimed that there wasn’t enough money available; a successful bid would solve that problem.

Protecting the Vulnerable

Wokingham District Council, along with many other councils across the country, is currently considering changing its rules on who is eligible to receive social services help.
Given that more people are living longer, there is increasing demand for social services, particularly for the elderly. The Conservatives, who run the council, are proposing to tighten the eligibility criteria, to ease upward pressure on the social services budget.
The Lib Dem opposition accepts that there is a long-term problem that needs to be addressed. We have argued that the council should be pressing the government for more money to support social services for elderly and disabled members of our community. We have also said that the council should be looking across all its departments for savings rather than expect social services to bear the brunt by making deep cuts in services and substantially increasing charges.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact that the council’s social services budget supports some of the most vulnerable and needy in the District – surely they should be a priority in any civilized, caring community.

Twyford Liberal Democrats