20 April 2026
CADRA publishes a spring and autumn newsletter to coincide with our AGM and open autumn meeting, which are distributed by email or in hard copy to all of our members. We also publish a monthly roundup after our committee meeting.
19 April 2026
Tuesday 19 May at 7.30pm in the Caversham Baptist Church by Waitrose
Our theme is Caversham 1926. As Caversham Bridge reaches the centenary of its opening in May, our speakers will take you back to 1926 to look at the creation of the new bridge, the importance of our river and the Royal Show held that year at Caversham Park. This is an open meeting, and all are welcome.
We are delighted to bring you the Spring Newsletter.
AGM Meeting Documents
Committee Member Nomination Form
Annual Accounts
Chair's Annual Report
18 April 2026
Both versions list current applications CADRA considers are of wider interest in our area, selected from Reading Borough Council's (RBC) and South Oxfordshire District Council's (SODC) lists.
For each application the list has the: site address, council ward, description, status, application type, a link to CADRA's comments and to the details held by Reading Borough Council (RBC) or South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC).
Guide to the CADRA PlannIng List
To search the two applications register: Planning applications
9 January 2026
CADRA will be at the inquiry as a Rule 6 Participant, which allows us to present our case to the inspector and to question witnesses. This gives us the same status as South Oxfordshire District Council, Reading Borough Council and Kidmore End Parish Council, as well as the appellant. We have submitted our Case Statement along with documents that provide evidence to support the assertions we make. You can read our Case Statement and those of SODC, RBC, KEPC and view all our evidence documents at: CADRA Documents.
9 January 2026
The Reading Borough Council's Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU) submitted May 2025 is now under examination by a Government Inspectors. CADRA has writen an explanation of the LPPU process. As the LPPU progresses we have provided on the latest news, with latest first, as follows.
We submited comments for the second stage examiners' hearings - CADRA Comments LPPU Hearings 9 Jan 2026
CADRA's December 2024 LPPU comments before the LPPU was submitted - The changes for our area are limited but Hemdean House School is now identified for education, community use or 22-34 dwellings.
Requests to reference sites in South Oxfordshire within the Reading Local Plan were not accepted, on the basis that Reading expects to meet its housing needs in full, without assistance from neighbouring authorities.
If you are interested in more detail, we have produced a paper with relevant extracts - CADRA Summary
15 December 2025
The picture for CADRA's Children’s Colouring Competition was drawn by local artist Janina Maher and shows Comet the Reindeer at the gates of Caversham Court Gardens. The prize for best entry is The Reading Detectives Book (or similar) and a water bottle from a local sports team. Please send your entries to info@cadra.org.uk by 5th January 2026.
Click picture picture for print size
21 November 2025
RBC's Traffic Management Sub-Committee considers traffic measure requests from Councillors. Typically, these are for junction improvements, new pedestrian crossings and traffic calming schemes. CADRA extracts and publishes the measures relating to the wards in our area. The information is as provided by Reading Borough Council.
For the sub-committee's November 2025 meeting there are no new requests, but there are several North Reading measures which are being proposed for removal from the list.
Traffic Measures Retained List for North Reading
Traffic Management Sub-Commit Agenda for its November 2025 meeting.
11 November 2025
Wednesday 19 November at 7.30pm in St Barnabas Church, Corner of Evesham Road and Grove Road RG4 8RA
Olly Stephens was just 13 when he was set up, plotted against and lured out of his home due to an argument on social media. Olly was a victim of knife crime and was killed by other children in Bugs Bottom, Emmer Green. Almost 5 years on, his bereaved mother, Amanda, has become a standard-bearer for raising awareness of action to protect young people. This has culminated in the creation of the charity ‘The Olly Stephens Trust’. Amanda will explain what ‘Olly’s Work’ does and how it seeks to educate others. Her presentation will be followed by a talk from Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Community Safety Manager, Sarah Gardner and RBC’s Safer Public Realm Officer, Kiar Greyfaulk. They will explain the partner organisations that work with RBC to help protect young people. There will be plenty of opportunity for these speakers to answer questions from the floor. The meeting is open to all (not just CADRA members). Refreshments will be available.
Car parking: there will be spaces to park in the Emmer Green Surgery car park and Emmer Green Primary School car park (please refrain from parking outside the church as this will be reserved for guest speakers & disabled badge holders).
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There will also be a prize draw. Attendees will have the chance to win two tickets to Reading Rep’s Christmas production of A Christmas Carol set in Huntley and Palmers Biscuit factory. Other prizes include: Emmer Green Past and Present book reprinted by CADRA, Caversham Court Gardens a Heritage Guide book, a Goody Bag from No5 and some packs of our wonderful CADRA Heritage Greetings Cards.
26 October 2025
Wednesday 19 November at 7.30pm in St Barnabas Church, Corner of Evesham Road and Grove Road RG4 8RA
Olly Stephens was just 13 when he was set up, plotted against and lured out of his home due to an argument on social media. Olly was a victim of knife crime and was killed by other children in Bugs Bottom, Emmer Green. Almost 5 years on, his bereaved mother, Amanda, has become a standard-bearer for raising awareness of action to protect young people. This has culminated in the creation of the charity ‘The Olly Stephens Trust’. Amanda will explain what ‘Olly’s Work’ does and how it seeks to educate others. Her presentation will be followed by a talk from Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Community Safety Manager, Sarah Gardner and RBC’s Safer Public Realm Officer, Kiar Greyfaulk. They will explain the partner organisations that work with RBC to help protect young people. There will be plenty of opportunity for these speakers to answer questions from the floor. The meeting is open to all (not just CADRA members). Refreshments will be available.
Car parking: there will be spaces to park in the Emmer Green Surgery car park and Emmer Green Primary School car park (please refrain from parking outside the church as this will be reserved for guest speakers & disabled badge holders).
There will also be a prize draw. Attendees will have the chance to win two tickets to Reading Rep’s Christmas production of A Christmas Carol set in Huntley and Palmers Biscuit factory. Other prizes include: Emmer Green Past and Present book reprinted by CADRA, Caversham Court Gardens a Heritage Guide book, a Goody Bag from No5 and some packs of our wonderful CADRA Heritage Greetings Cards.
16 October 2025
The recent meeting North Reading Safer Neighbourhood Forum included a summary of the results of the Safer Reading Survey.
26 July 2025
CADRA was disappointed hear that the review has been indefiniteley postponed because of lack of funding. We have written to Matt Rodda MP asking him to support the review CADRA Letter .
Natural England are conducting a boundary review of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). They have recently published a paper of Frequently Asked Questions, to explain what AONBs are and the process for reviewing the existing boundaries, with specific reference to the Chilterns.
GLOBE, who are having discussions with and seeking the support of Matt Roda MP are keen to ensure, as is CADRA, that vulnerable local sites in SODC, that border Caversham and Emmer Green, are included in an extended AONB. On the west side of Caversham Heights the AONB boundary is the SODC and RBC boundary, whilst in other parts it is only a few hundred metres from the Council boundary.
The review includes consultation with statutory bodies, key stakeholders and the public. Natural England don't expect a submission to the Defra Secretary of State before October 2024. They do not know how long it will take for the Secretary of State to make a decision or whether there will be a public enquiry.
19 July 2025
The 2025 programme in Caversham starts with a full day of events on Saturday 13 September, linked to this year’s theme of Architecture:- Bridges, Buildings and Beehives and extending into Meteorology.
Caversham Court Gardens has drop in events from 11am-1pm and 2-4pm with workshops in the vinery for families: suitable for children aged 5+, but all welcome.
This is part of the excellent Look, Draw , Build programme. Children are encouraged to look at shapes and patterns, draw their favourite view and build imaginative structures inspired by what they have seen and drawn. All materials provided. Look, Draw, Build in Caversham Court
Caversham Baptist Church will host a series of events that day.
The afternoon will conclude at 4.45pm. All the events are free to attend but donations towards costs would be appreciated. Cash or card. Some local publications will be on sale.
Places for each talk need to be booked separately. For the full programme of events, see Heritage Open Days and search by location or date.
