New houses in South Oxfordshire
One of the joys of living in Caversham is the abrupt end of housing and the immediate access to the lovely open country of South Oxfordshire. We are blessed by the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on our doorstep and thus far by the rigid policy of South Oxfordshire District Council against planning applications in this part of South Oxfordshire.

Under the requirements of the South East Plan, South Oxfordshire is now required to provide for 1600 houses in Central Oxfordshire (mainly in Wallingford) and 1400 houses in the rest of the District. This process will be conducted within the terms of a new Local Development Framework, replacing the Local Plan. The main principals are set out in a Core Strategy to 2026 which was the subject of consultation over the Christmas period, ending 1 February. The document suggests options for the location of future development within South Oxfordshire and discusses the issues and problems which need to be addressed.

The issue for Caversham is where the 1400 will be located. A major proportion is planned at Thame and Henley but there are also options including land adjacent to Reading and in the larger villages including Goring, Sonning Common and Woodcote. A total of 560 houses could be located in land adjacent to Reading and the larger villages nearby, in addition to further expansion at Henley. Analysis suggests that many of these additional residents will travel regularly to Reading, increasing the substantial traffic flows through Caversham.

Views are also sought on the need for Park and Ride sites next to Reading and suggestions for possible sites.

You can see the options on line at:
http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/corestrategy/ , with a link to the on line questionnaire.
You can email planning.policy@southoxon.gov.uk or telephone 01491 823725.

Caversham’s rural edge
We need also to watch the smaller applications on the Reading side of the boundary.
A second application has been made for land at 161 Upper Woodcote Road, which, if approved would set a precedent for houses on the very edge of Caversham Heath golf course. Local residents worked hard to resist the previous application which was refused by the Council and later by the Planning Inspector. It is likely the Council will have decided the second application, before you read this page.

There is also a repeat application for land at 241-251 Henley Road, the last buildings on the right as you leave Caversham. The land slopes down to the Berry Brook behind and much of it is the floodplain. To achieve the 14 dwellings proposed, the density on the front is much higher than desirable; there is inadequate soft landscaping and screening at the front and issues which could impact on overall flood risk.

Did you know that, on the CADRA website, www.cadra.org.uk, you will find in the planning section, a list for that month of all the planning applications of wider interest? By clicking on the link for each application, you will be taken direct to the details of that application in the Borough Council website. This allows you to view plans on line and to submit comments on a brief pro-forma. Do try it next time there is an application near you. Local views do influence the decisions made.

Readings Traffic Commission
Sir Brian Briscoe who is heading up Reading's Independent Transport Commission has been joined by Professor Tony Travers, of the London School of Economics, and Dr Maggie Smales, a Caversham resident who has a background in local government, the voluntary sector, business and the media. They are charged with looking at current and projected transport issues in central Reading, including access to the town centre. Comments were invited up to the end of January 2008 and between January and March 2008 the Commission will be inviting chosen contributors who have submitted written evidence to present their evidence to a series of public hearings.

CADRA submitted formal evidence to the Commission, following comments from members who could be contacted by email within the time constraints. The submission can be seen at www.cadra.org.uk. It sets out some of the main problems in Reading, lists a range of measures for further investigation or improvements, for cars, cyclists, pedestrians and public transport and urges further consultation on the findings and recommendations of the Commission.

Hemdean Road Post Office
The Royal Mail has earmarked branches in Reading for closure, including the Caversham Hemdean Road branch. The consultation ran from 11th December to 31st January. Both MPs are campaigning to save the Post Offices in their constituency. Each branch has a loyal customer base of people who have used the branch for many years and a large number of pensioners who may find it difficult to have to travel to another branch. Although the formal consultation will have passed, if you want to help save the Hemdean Road Post Office, you may be able to:
• Sign the petition on the counter
• Send an email to consultation@postoffice.co.uk
• Contact Rob Wilson MP at his website: http://www.robwilsonmp.com/index.jsp select ‘need my help’