Published: Thursday, 31st July, 2008 09:00
Leader: A bridge not far enough
By By The Reading Chronicle, the Voice of Reading
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REGULARS at Reading Festival have witnessed some odd sights over the years.
Occasional hallucinations of an illicit origin on the one hand and some of the biggest names in the music business on the other.
But this year they will be confronted by something that folk in this area have waited more than a century to see – a third bridge over the River Thames.
It may have them gnashing their teeth at County Hall in Oxford but for the duration of the festival weekend it seems that rock music fans will be trotting back and forth between Berkshire and Oxfordshire at their convenience in a demonstration of what can be achieved when you really try.
Down the years it has been no secret that Oxfordshire County Council’s resistance to the Third Bridge concept has been founded on its reluctance to pay for the improvements to the road network and infrastructure necessary to carry the additional volume of traffic which would inevitably take advantage of an extra crossing point.
On this side of the river the feeling is that, sooner rather than later, Oxfordshire will be forced to give in, particularly if the more militant politicians have their way and slap in a planning application, leaving it up to a public inquiry and the sitting environment minister to crush all objections on appeal.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if our Festival Bridge opened up minds on the opposite bank? A resounding 'yes’ from Oxfordshire would be music to our ears.
THE rise and rise of Reading’s footballers had the brakes applied last May and even the once regular silverware poachers from the town’s speedway team have run into some uncertainty over the future of Smallmead.
But next week we’ll all be Berkshire fans when our cricketers head for Lord’s in a bid to win the Minor Counties Cup for the second time in four years.
The picture of opener David Barnes, bloodied but unbowed, his shirt stained bright red was the abiding image from the gutsy semi-final victory over neighbours Oxfordshire. We hope they won’t need to shed blood for victory in the final, but the hundreds of Berkshire voices heading for cricket’s headquarters next Wednesday reckon they’ve got more than a shout.
We wish them the best of luck.
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