What we do

CADRA works hard with the police, other agencies and local groups to help people feel safe in the home and out in the community.  This includes reducing crime, vandalism and graffiti. Our overall aim is to improve the quality of life in our area.

The Vision and Open Meeting

‘To enhance Caversham centre as a high quality place for shopping, working, living and leisure and to promote an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable village centre for the 21st Century’

 

 

 

In November 2013, an open meeting between CADRA and the Caversham Traders Association(CTA) was held, entitled: Sharing our Streets.

Over 100 people attended to hear a presentation from Simon Beasley, Network Manager for Reading Borough Council. Paul Matthews, a member of the CADRA committee then gave a brief presentation comparing Caversham with other local centres. He gave examples of what had been achieved elsewhere to make roads more ‘friendly’ to non motorists. CADRA's presentation.

Comments were invited on traffic issues in Caversham from: those present at the meeting, all members of CADRA and CTA, and the wider community through Facebook. Comments were summarised as a basis for further discussion with Councillors and Officers. There was almost universal support that improvements in Caversham Centre are needed. You can read the summary here .

As the next step, a Draft Vision was prepared and widely circulated for comment before being adopted as a basis for further work. You can read the Vision here. The latest and previous key events follow.

November 2017 - RBC Committee Briefing

Reading Borough Council's Traffic and Transport Sub-Committee were briefed on the CADRA/CTA's Sharing Our Streets report (Committee briefing). The implementation of the vision is dependent on the St Martins Precint redevelopment, which "is being carried out in phases and consequently Section 106 monies will become available as the precinct improvements are carried out. As the transport proposals are developed they will be presented to the Sub-committee for approval alongside the S106 funding available".

March 2015 - Presentation to Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Following the launch of the Achieving the Vision document at the second joint CADRA and Caversham Traders Association (CTA) meeting in November 2014, CADRA met with Reading Councillors in January 2015 to discuss possible ways to improve the centre of Caversham.

The document was well received and CADRA was invited to make a presentation to the Transport Users’ Forum/Traffic Management Sub-Committee at the Civic Centre on 12th March 2015. CADRA was encouraged by the response to the presentation and members of the Committee offered to work with CADRA, Caversham Traders and Council Officers to develop a plan for Caversham Centre. The Committee Chair, Councillor Tony Page, indicated that financial contributions from Hermes, the developers of St Martin’s Precinct, would be available for transport related improvements in Caversham centre.

January 2015 - Meeting with Reading Councillors

Following the launch of the Achieving the Vision document at the second joint CADRA/CTA meeting in November 2014, CADRA met with Reading Councillors in January 2015 to discuss possible ways to improve the centre of Caversham. The document was well received and CADRA was invited to make a presentation to the Transport Users’ Forum/Traffic Management Sub-Committee at the Civic Centre on 12th March 2015. 
CADRA was encouraged by the response to the presentation and members of the Committee offered to work with CADRA, Caversham Traders and Council Officers to develop a plan for Caversham Centre. The Committee Chair, Councillor Tony Page, indicated that financial contributions from Hermes, the developers of St Martin’s Precinct, would be available for transport related improvements in Caversham centre.

Poynton - Example for Other Centres

The radical changes to the traffic layout in Poynton, Cheshire provide some interesting lessons for other centres. A video outlining the changes and the local reaction to them can be seen here. Despite initial misgivings, traffic is now flowing through freely and new life has brought to the centre.