Slough

A man will appear before Slough Magistrates’ Court on 19/8 charged in connection with four vehicles being broken into during the same day in Slough.

Shahin Ahmed, aged 27, of Stranraer Gardens, Slough, was charged on 18/8 with four counts of theft from motor vehicles. The charges relate to incidents the day before (17/8) in Wellesley Road and High Street, Slough.

He was remanded in police custody overnight to appear at court on 19/8.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Slough’s new library and cultural centre received planning permission, subject to conditions, on 5 August 2010.

The approved design joins the new bus station, which is now under construction, as another iconic landmark for the £450m Heart of Slough project to transform the centre of the town.

With a total floor area of 4447m2 the new library and cultural centre will include:

* A library (including 2.5 kilometres of book shelves) and extensive IT access
* A 180 seat performance space
* Adult learning and teaching rooms
* Rooms for council and community meetings
* Display areas
* A cafe

The new Slough design will create an internal pedestrian link between the new bus station and Mackenzie Square, and provide a sympathetic backdrop to St Ethelbert’s Church. It incorporates solar panels in the roof and high efficiency gas boilers to help meet the council’s sustainability objectives.

"The new building not only looks great, it will bring a new sense of community into the heart of Slough," said Andrew Stevens, Assistant Director, Learning and Cultural Engagement at Slough Borough Council. "It brings together a range of community and cultural activities right into the town centre.

"We will be consulting on the internal designs over the next few weeks and will run a competition to come up with a new name for the building soon after."

Cllr James Swindlehurst, commissioner for Slough neighbourhoods and renewal said: "It’s great to see the Heart of Slough taking shape and this approval is another important step forward in revitalising the town centre."

Building work on the new library and cultural centre is due to start by early 2012 and the new centre will be ready to use from 2013. The existing town centre library will continue to operate as normal until then.

Slough Borough Council

Two teenagers have been arrested after a man reported being robbed of his mobile phone in Slough.

The incident happened in Salt Hill Park, Bath Road, Slough, at around 12.50am on Friday 13 August.

Two teenagers from the Slough area – aged 17 and 19 – were arrested shortly afterwards. One was arrested after being located by a police dog.

Both have since been released on police bail until 3 September 2010 pending further police inquiries.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Slough Borough Council is hosting a day of activity showing residents the consequences of being unsafe on the roads.

On Friday 20 August, the Slough Town Square will become the scene of an ‘accident’ between a car and a motorcycle.

The fire service will be cutting open the vehicle to ‘rescue’ trapped passengers and the Thames Vale Motorcyclist Group will be on hand to advise on advanced motor cycle training.

The Slough council’s road safety team will be offering advice on all aspects of road safety and the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership exhibition trailer will be showing the dangers of not being safe when driving.

Trading standards will be advising on safety issues when buying a second-hand car and the drug and alcohol action team will be warning of the hazards of driving under the influence.

Mothercare’s child car seat experts will be showing some of the car seats currently on offer and advising on use and fitting to ensure maximum safety for children.

Keith Beasley, road safety officer for Slough Borough Council, said: “This event is part of our campaign to make the roads of the borough safer for everyone.

“Most people are aware of how they should be driving to keep themselves and others safe but it is something that can be easily forgotten in the rush of daily life.

“We want to show people what the consequences can be of momentary lapse in concentration and how important driving safely is.”

Councillor James Swindlehurst, commissioner for neighbourhoods, said: “I hope that this event will encourage people to think carefully about their actions when they are behind the wheel, as careless driving can destroy lives.

“Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and this is an opportunity for the council’s road safety team, police and fire service to highlight the work they are doing, and the responsibility of individual drivers too.”

Slough Borough Council wishes to thank Finning Power Systems, who are based in Slough, for sponsoring the event.

Mark Barnes, general manager of Finning Power Systems, said: “As a local company that views safety as a core value of our business, we are very pleased to be involved in raising awareness of road safety in Slough.

“A lot of good advice will be given at the event, we hope that this will help to keep the public safe on the roads of the borough and beyond.”

Slough Borough Council

A 10-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a robbery in Slough.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged on Friday 13 August, in connection with an incident in Prestwood, Wexham, Slough, which happened at approximately 4.35pm on 12 June 2010.

During the incident, the 10-year-old is alleged to have approached another boy and verbally threatening him before making off with his bike. The bike was recovered shortly afterwards.

The boy has been released on police bail to attend Maidenhead youth court on 26 August 2010.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Whether it’s a biography for the beach or a novel for night time, Slough’s libraries have the book for you this summer.

All the Slough libraries now receive the top ten best selling titles and there are special displays of books you might enjoy.

Library membership and book loans are free and now there is a new Slough computer system, called Spydus, to help people find the book they want.

Spydus is designed to make it easier to search for books, renew and reserve on line.

It can also provide residents with notices by e-mail, you can set up a profile and review and recommend books to others as well as checking what you have borrowed previously.

Liz McMillan, assistant head of the Slough library service, said: “Summer is an excellent time to take advantage of your local library and pick up a book for the beach, or the garden.

“And now with the new computer system it is even easier to find what you are looking for or try something new that has been recommended by others.”

She added: “We have even more changes coming in the autumn to improve and refresh the library service so join now and give it a try.”

Councillor Shafiq Chaudhry, commissioner for Slough community and leisure, said: “Libraries in Slough are improving all the time, with longer opening hours across the town, investment in the book fund, and new refurbished libraries in Langley and Cippenham in which to enjoy the great titles on offer.

“Now is a great time to familiarise yourself with your local library, or the central library as there are plenty of improvements planned over the coming months which will make the service even better.”

Slough Borough Council

Slough Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses after a man tricked his way into the home of an elderly resident in Langley on Thursday (5/8) and stole cash.

At about 11.30am, the 80-year-old man was putting out the bins at his home in Churchill Road, Slough when he was approached by a man who asked if he could borrow a bucket and other tools, as he was doing some work in the area. They struck up a conversation and the elderly resident invited the man into his house. The resident left the man in his kitchen while he looked for the tools. During this time, it is believed the man stole £20 cash from the kitchen table. The Slough resident then gave the tools to the man and let him out of the front door. Although he said he would return, the man never came back.

The Slough suspect is white, aged 30 to 45, 5ft10ins to 6ft1ins, slim, with short, mousy brown hair and a scruffy appearance. He was wearing a grey jumper and grey trousers, and spoke with a “Cockney” accent.

PC Nick Currie said: “The suspect in this case has abused the trust of the victim, taken advantage of his kind nature and used the opportunity to steal some cash from him. Although the amount of cash is relatively small, the suspect has shown a lot of confidence to trick his way into the house and steal money.

"For this reason, we believe that the man may well try this sort of thing again in the future and will probably target elderly and vulnerable people. I urge anybody who recognises the suspect from the description to call the police and let us know who he is.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Slough PC Nick Currie on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Slough Borough Council is asking residents to go batty this weekend and join volunteers making bat boxes.

Slough Volunteers will be meeting at Wexham Nursery on Saturday 14 August from 10am to 3pm to create as many bat boxes as possible – and everyone is invited.

When completed, the boxes will be placed in Herschel Park as part of the £2.7 million restoration project, run by the council and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project is restoring the Slough park back to its former Victorian glory as well as creating a nature reserve and wildflower area.

Tony Down, Herschel Park management officer, said: “Bats are an important part of nature and because so much of their habitat has been destroyed in the past they are now protected by law.

“Unfortunately the places where they like to roost are very vulnerable to disturbance as old rotting and hollow trees are often cut down and the eaves of houses are often treated with preservatives which can be harmful.

“By creating these special boxes, we hope to encourage bats to come and make their homes in Herschel Park and provide a safe environment for them to roost.”

The bats the Herschel Park Slough team want to attract include the long-eared bat and pipistrelle bats. Pipistrelle bats are just 5cm long and both types of bat eat flying insects.

A selection of tools will be provided on Saturday but please bring along a hammer and a panel saw if you have them.

For more information on the Herschel Park project and how to volunteer for the bat box building or any of the numerous mid-week work parties contact Tony Down on 01753 875209 or e-mail tony.down@slough.gov.uk

Slough Borough Council

Officers from Slough Thames Valley Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) recovered over one kilo of cocaine and arrested two people.

Officers arrested two people yesterday (5/8), from an address in Knolton Way, Slough, on suspicion of conspiracy to import class A controlled drugs.

A package containing 1.2 kilos of cocaine, which was destined for an address in Slough, was recovered by officers. The cocaine has a street value of approximately £230,000.

The men, aged 25 and 30, remain in police custody.

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough

Approximately 100 motorists were stopped as part of a multi-agency road safety drive in Slough yesterday (2/8).

Slough PC Bob Wade, Road Safety Constable from the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership, joined officers from the Roads Policing Department and Road Safety Officers from Slough Borough Council, to carry out the check on Farnham Road between 8.30am and 12.30pm. Also on hand at the check was the Vehicle Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

The aim was to check Slough drivers committing offences that have an adverse effect on road safety, such as not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone, and to identify vehicles that appeared to be in need of an inspection to check their road-worthiness, and also to ensure that vehicle loads were legal.

Of the Slough vehicles stopped some were sent direct to VOSA and passed a vehicle inspection with no further action however forty people were issued with Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) of £60 for failing to wear a seatbelt. These individuals were offered the option of completing an online course. The course costs £25 and is paid online. If the driver is successful, the FPN is cancelled.

Fifteen Slough drivers were caught using their mobile phone and issued with a FPN of £60 and three penalty points on their licence. They were offered the chance to attend a Call Divert education course, in place of the fine and points. The course costs a little more than the FPN and is paid for by the driver. If completed successfully, the FPN, including the points, are cancelled. These courses can only be completed once in a three year period.

One vehicle was seized by officers as the driver had no insurance. The Slough drivers of these vehicles received a £200 FPN and six penalty points. In order to get the vehicle released, they must produce the correct documents to drive the vehicle and pay a £150 recovery bill plus any daily storage costs.

VOSA issued 17 prohibition notices for various Slough vehicle defects. Some of these were immediate prohibitions. An immediate prohibition notice requires a driver to rectify the fault before the vehicle can be driven any further. The remainder were given delayed notices allowing the driver to continue, on condition the defect is rectified within a certain time and a full MOT obtained before the prohibition on the vehicle is removed. The main faults found were defective tyres and excessive tints on window glass. Of the vehicles looked at, one was found to be overloaded and the driver given a caution.

Slough PC Bob Wade said: “We are still finding a lot of vehicles that have defects that and therefore drivers need to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy and check them before use, not just for the MOT but all year round. Drivers who wish to flout the law regarding seat belts and the use of mobile phones have nobody to blame but themselves and need to be aware that they will be caught.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Slough