From the Lookout Post - April 2008

Air Quality

Have you noticed the new air quality monitoring station by Caversham Bridge, opposite The Moderation?  Based on preliminary measurement, areas exceeding normal levels of air pollution, have been designated Air Quality Management Areas. Three of Reading’s  six areas  are in Caversham:

• Caversham Centre - From Prospect St/Henley Road Junction to Caversham Rd / Vastern Road Roundabout
•  Caversham Road - from Abatoirs Roadd to Vachel Road
•  George Street, Caversham - Gosbrook Road Junction to Queens Road.

The Borough Council is required to undertake more detailed monitoring and then produce action plans for each AQMA. Seminars for interested groups on the subject of air quality were held in February and you may have seen the public consultation. Once the monitoring station is operational, the data will be managed and ratified by the Environmental Research Group (ERG) based at Kings College, London. Watch this space!

Transport Commission

By the time you read this, it is likely that the three Commissioners will have finished taking evidence and are busy scratching their heads on how to respond to the conflicting evidence received. There are some fascinating summaries available on the Borough Council’s website. Caversham and District Residents’ Association (CADRA) and Emmer Green Residents’ Association (EGRA) will have given evidence at public hearings and a large number of individuals from north of the river have sent written evidence.

Mapledurham Pavilion

The Borough Council’s Cabinet approved the recommendation to demolish the hall and replace the changing rooms only. Following the emphatic message from the consultation, finance has been identified without any sale of land. We understand the design of the changing rooms will allow a hall to be attached should funding become available. The hall will be a great loss to Caversham, so let’s hope this is not the end of the story. The Council’s view was that having provided funding for the much needed new hall at Highdown School, they could not justify funding for another community facility in the area, so perhaps some of the current uses of the pavilion can be transferred to the hall at Highdown?

Planning

All Hallows Road, the road leading to the cemetery, has been the subject of a number of planning applications which threaten the original design of long grass verges and an avenue of trees giving a stately and restful approach to the cemetery gates. The development halfway down on the right, was approved at appeal and  work started some months back. The new access road is very close to one of the avenue of trees and there has been considerable local concern that the tree roots could be damaged.

At the far end of All Hallows Road, to the right of the cemetery gates, the initial application to build behind the present houses was refused by the Council and upheld at appeal. We hope that a second application will also be refused.

Outline plans by Mapledurham Estate and Elegant Homes to build a single storey house and a pair of semi-detached houses on Blagrave Lane, by the gravel hill cottages are causing considerable concern. This area is a wildlife haven and the proposed buildings would be seen from the open country side blocking the view of the listed black and white cottage and the pair of 19thC brick cottages. The only vehicle access is from a very well used footpath/bridleway. We hope that the Planning Committee will take seriously the strength of feeling against these plans.

Caversham Precinct

For some time, there has been discussion behind the scenes about the poor state of the precinct. The area has now been sold to Hermes, an international development firm. Hermes has appointed a management company, Cushman & Wakefield to look after the area. Indications so far, are that there will be a different approach to the management of the precinct. We understand that plans for improvement are being developed which is encouraging and long overdue.

Sites allocation – the Local Development Framework

The Local Plan 1991-2006, included a designation of particular sites for development or for protection. As part of the process for the local Development Framework, which replaces the Local Plan, the Borough Council asked for proposals for sites which should be developed or protected. Four local associations – CADRA, EGRA, WADRA and Caversham GLOBE - worked together to review the designations in the Local Plan and to recommend which should remain and which should be updated to reflect changes. The combined response can be seen on the CADRA website, www.cadra.org.uk.

We expect there to be a further round of consultation in the autumn, on the sites proposed for development or protection.  These strategic decisions are the backcloth for all detailed plans over a long period so it is important that Caversham takes an active role in the process.

Policing Matters

For the next few months, the two Neighbourhood Action Groups responsible for guiding police activities in Caversham will both be focusing on traffic issues, including parking. If you have traffic issues that you would like to bring to the attention of these groups, or wish to join either of these Groups, please contact PC0979 Stuart Murdoch for the Lower Caversham/ Caversham Centre or PC 1636 John Finnerty  for Upper Caversham including Emmer Green and CPV.  (0845 505 505.)

The monthly Police Surgeries, held on the first Monday of the month, from 5 pm until 7 pm, at Church House, in Church St, are also an opportunity to make your views known to the police. The police are also organising Street Meetings, in early evenings, when residents can make contact with police who will be in the vicinity. Leaflet drops will inform residents of details. Again, if you wish to have such an event on your street, contact the relevant officer.

The police have successfully arrested and charged four males following several distraction burglaries in Upper Caversham. The victims were vulnerable elderly females. The offenders were also charged for other similar offences in Oxfordshire.