6 April 2011
Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West, took part in the hugely successful Pangbourne & Whitchurch Sustainability Group (PAWS) Family Cycle Ride on Sunday 27th March, which covered an 8 mile round trip from Pangbourne to Theale. Alok was joined on the ride by around 80 adults and children, including his older daughter Isabella.

The cycling event took place at the end of Climate Week, and was part of a series of special activities designed to raise awareness and inform local residents about climate change issues and encourage people to take a responsible view of sustainability including using carbon neutral methods of transport, such as cycling.

The Pangbourne and Whitchurch Sustainability Group was founded in 2010. It is a not-for-profit community organisation with the aim of promoting and encouraging the development of a sustainable local community.

PAWS’s particular aims are to:
  • Reduce the community carbon footprint;

  • Promote sustainability projects, act as a source of sustainability advice to the community and foster the biodiversity of the local natural environment.


PAWS draws together the communities of Pangbourne and Whitchurch to work towards these common purposes. It is independent of, but supported by, both parish councils.

The PAWS’s Transport team led by Jim Donahue, has developed a map together with West Berkshire Council, which set out three practical bike routes from Pangbourne and Whitchurch to areas such as Theale, Caversham and Bradfield.

Alok commented: “I was delighted to join PAWS for the group’s Family Cycle Ride and really enjoyed the afternoon’s cycling and I want to thank PAWS for organising the ride along such a pleasant cycle route. The Family Cycle Ride is only one of a number of activities and initiatives that PAWS has organised and I applaud the group for all the valuable work it does in the area of sustainability.”

Barbara Singleton-Crisp, organiser of the event, said: “We were really grateful that, with all the pressures on his time, Alok was able to join us, on what turned out to be a glorious March day. Everyone seemed to enjoy their day and many asked when the next one is! We were extremely pleased that the event was such a big success.”

Peter McManners, founding joint chair of PAWS together with Heather Thorne, added: “We welcome everyone to join in our events and meetings and the PAWS website www.pawsg.com sets out all our activities. We can also be contacted at Info@PAWSg.com.”

Photo: Alok Sharma with Barbara Singleton-Crisp, Jim Donahue and fellow riders on PAWS Family Cycle Ride