Published: Thursday, 22nd January, 2009 8:00am

Act now to protect town

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For years the jobless figures for Reading moved up and down by no more than a handful every month.

But in the last two months the numbers across Reading, West Berkshire, Wokingham and South Oxfordshire council areas have gone up by over 1,300.

No doubt there will be more job losses to follow. In an area largely regarded as the most recession-proof in the UK, few people expect the Thames Valley to suffer as much as the rest of the country.

However as dark clouds gather, now might be a good time to bring in initiatives that would lessen the pain - and even bring a few benefits.

Just along the M4 in Slough, a scheme is being launched to get to people before they lose their jobs so that when the axe falls they can find training or even do voluntary work.

The theory is that if people are left on the scrapheap for more six months their motivation and confidence falls significantly.

Instead they could help desperate charities which also suffer in the downturn and could get a sense of satisfaction from the work.

At the same time another scheme is being launched to get advice to businesses in danger of running into trouble.

Slough discovered in the last recession that these schemes are needed early in difficult times.

The local authorities in and around Reading still have time to act to ease the situation we face.

So whatever action they may take, if there is one thing they could learn from our neighbours it is not to leave it too late.