Speeding and crime were the subjects that are at the top of voters’ minds in Reading on polling day.
An election is being held to elect representatives to Reading Borough Council until 10pm today (Thursday, May 7).
Votes are taking place across all 16 of the wards in the town, with people in the Caversham Heights ward electing two councillors.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked voters at the Reading Scout & Guide Headquarters about the big issues affecting them.
Lillian King said: “Well it’s a local election so I’m voting on local issues that matter to people, things like community activities, things like crime and people’s health.
“But very much on local issues I’m voting today.”
Other residents, particularly those of Sycamore Road, raised the issue of speeding and potholes.
The polling station where the interviews took place is in Northcourt Avenue, where speed bumps and a 20mph zone were installed earlier this year.
Paul and Carol King live in Sycamore Road. On the issues that affect them, Mr King said: “It’s the potholes and speeding.”
On whether a 20mph zone and speed bumps would help, he said: “Around here, it would, yeah.
“That’s what our main concern is at the moment.”
Mrs King added: “It’s only a matter of time before someone will get knocked down.”
Maria Wilmot: “Housing is a big issue. My friend’s daughter can’t get housing.
“She was meant to move in January and she’s waiting for this election to see whether they get a house.
“She was made homeless with her two little boys, she’s just living with her mother at the moment. It’s housing mainly.
“As for crime, there used to be crime, we used to get vandalism. We have got garages that attracted anti-social behaviour, and the council did put in a light so they could keep an eye on it.
“At one stage, you used to get a lot of drug use and stuff like that.
The worst bit is at the top of Blagdon Road, that is where the majority of it goes on and in Linden Road park, and I think it’s wrong because of the children.”
A man complained about a “rubbish bus service” and speeding traffic in Sycamore Road, sympathising with the possibility of traffic calming measures there.
A few people gave brief statements in passing, with a man expressing disappointment at the “infighting” within the national government.
A married couple also passed by. Although they didn’t want to speak at length, the woman indicated she wanted a change of leadership on the borough council.
If you are voting in person today, you require valid photo ID, a full list of which can be found on the Electoral Commission website.
