West Berks tops salary plunge table

The area has seen the real value of average earnings drop £1,868 - representing a 20.4 per cent reduction - between April 2008 and November 2012, according to data published by the Office for National Statistics.
In comparison, East Sussex has seen wages rise £3,417 - a drop of only 1.4 per cent in real terms - during the same period.
Oxfordshire fared a little better with a reduction 7.8 per cent while Bracknell Forest suffered a 14.8 per cent reduction and Hampshire, minus 10.6 per cent.
Average earnings in the whole south east, meanwhile, dropped by 10.8 per cent.
However, a spokesman for West Berkshire Chamber of Commerce predicted better things for 2013.
And West Berkshire Council leader Gordon Lundie (Con, Lambourn Valley) expressed surprise, adding: “If these figures are correct, it’s surprising because it doesn’t translate to what we see on the ground in terms of employment. For example, we have the lowest unemployment rate in the south east.
“Unemployment is still coming down and there are jobs available. These figures are not reflected, either, in people presenting to the council in serious need.”
The figures have been collated by the GMB union and regional spokesman Paul Maloney said: “We don’t know why West Berkshire has been worst hit. Probably there is no single reason but a combination of factors.
“Consumer spending is the single biggest component of demand in the economy and with the real value of wages from employment falling, there’s no mystery as to why the recovery is in a downward spiral.”
He added: “The replacing of full time permanent jobs with part time and temporary lower paid jobs is part of this. A living wage and pay rises to help hard pressed families as bills go through the roof are needed to boost the economy and stop this downward spiral.”
The figures are reflected in the West Berkshire Citizens Advice Bureau’s annual report for 2012, which noted an increase in people asking for help of 13 per cent.
It adds: “During the year our clients experienced an increase in threatened homelessness of 79 per cent and an increase of 19 per cent in actual homelessness.
“In debt advice we saw an eight per cent rise in mortgage and secured loans arrears, a 66 per cent rise in Housing Association rent arrears, a 120 per cent rise in court fines arrears and a 54 per cent rise in problems repaying overpayments of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.”
Business manager at West Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Gary Cranford, was more upbeat. He said: "The Thames Valley Region, including West Berkshire, continues to perform well economically.
“These statistics, in West Berkshire in particular, may be due to the rural nature of most of the area. However, we would say that there is considerable inward investment and regeneration in Newbury in particular - for example, the racecourse development, Parkway and the intention of larger businesses to use local suppliers.”
He added: “We would therefore expect this trend to change during 2013."