14 December 2018
CADRA maintains a summary of the significant local planning applications and appeals which is updated each month. Each application listed provides a direct link the RBC website where plans can be seen and comments sent on line. Links to the Planning Inspectorate show progress on appeals. Applications in South Oxfordshire which are significant and close to the border with Reading are also listed.
13 December 2018
The community led St Peters Conservation Area Appraisal paper into the St Peters Conservation Area, including the extension was approved by Reading Borough Council’s Strategic Environment Planning and Transport Committee on 21st November 2018.
There is more information about this project at: Background
11 December 2018
Thames Valley Police in association with RBC have produced a guide on how to report crime and nuisance within Caversham (North Reading area). It is expected that a printed version of the guide will be available at various Caversham locations.
3 December 2018
Reading Borough Council is consulting on the provision of public health services over the next two years, to ensure it focuses on the health and wellbeing issues that are most important to the people of Reading. A report on the response will be presented to the Council’s Policy Committee on 18th February 2019.
The consultation runs until Sunday 6th January 2019 and comments can be made via this link: Consultation
There will also be a Public Consultation event on Tuesday 18th December, from 10:30 am to 12:30pm, at Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC) Global Café, 35-39 London Street, Reading, RG1 4PS.
RBC has said that: "Continuing to provide public health services which support healthy, independent living, such as stop smoking, healthy weight support, school nursing and sexual health services, is becoming increasingly challenging for the Council. Government funding for Reading will have been reduced from nearly £55 million between 2010 and 2020, leaving the Council with a grant of under £3 million. The Council is reviewing how it uses the funding to make sure it is as efficient as possible and addresses the priority health issues for Reading. The Council is considering providing some public health support in different ways in future. This could include:
In order to inform the decision taken for Reading’s Public Health Budget for 2019/20 and 2020/21, the Council would like to hear from residents, organisations and partners on the approach to supporting health and wellbeing, and the proposed changes to how the funding is used. This will help the Council to focus on what areas are most important to the people of Reading."
3 December 2018
The Maples Wellbeing Centre based at Rivermead, offers a fully supported day service for anyone who lives in the Reading and Greater Reading area, who requires support to take part in social and leisure activities.
Their aim is to provide a high quality community based service to meet individual needs of older people including those living with dementia.
22 November 2018
Matt Rodda has convened a public meeting about the Caversham closure on Friday 30 November from 6pm to 9pm at Caversham Baptist Church. Please show your support for this important service and also find out about the Reading main post office move. Public Meeting Flyer
The Post Office has now confirmed that the Caversham Church St. Post Office will close at the end of January 2019. At this stage there is no arrangement in place to re-provide the service. The Post Office has said they "would like to reassure [the local community] that we are working hard to find a solution to maintain Post Office services in the area".
The Post Office has also said that the "Reading Post Office [Market Place] is proposed to be franchised to the nearby WHSmith store. We don’t yet have a confirmed date for this but any proposed changes will be subject to a public consultation where we will seek the views of our customers and local stakeholders in line with our Principles of Community Engagement".
The closure of the Church Street Pharmacy includes the post office. CADRA has been in touch with our MP and the Caversham Traders’ Association. Matt Rodda has said “My expectation is that the Post Office will find alternative premises in Caversham so that local people can continue to be served, without the inconvenience of having to travel to Reading or Emma Green”. He has also written to the Minister for Small Businesses.
22 November 2018
Age UK and the Thames Valley Police have each produced a leaflet giving advice about how to spot the types of scams that are directed against us all, so often these days. We thought you may find them helpful.
15 November 2018
The Environment Agency have been investigating options to reduce flood risk from the Thames in Lower Caversham and north Reading.
The Environment Agency website has the background and includes their Consultation Response Report.
The Agency is holding a ‘drop in’ event on Thursday 6th December, 2.30-7.30pm, at Caversham Baptist Church, South Street, where up to date information will be displayed and comments invited.
The Environment Agency’s also produce a newsletter summarising this.
14 November 2018
The Planning Appeal for 245 houses on the Caversham boundary at Dunsden has been dismissed. This is tremendous news and great credit goes to all the community groups, including CADRA, which fought the case. The Inspector focused on issues of housing numbers, the Local Plan and landscape impact in reaching his decision. Inspector's Decision Notice
Paul Matthews gave expert transport evidence. CADRA worked with the other members of the campaign group (CAGE) in all the build-up, made two statements and were represented throughout the appeal.
Thanks to the financial support from organisations and individuals, CAGE was able to engage a barrister. His contribution was very important and his closing statement to the appeal and other statements can be read here:
Traffic and transport statement
South Oxfordshire District Council statement
On a closely related matter, we have linked up with local parish councils and groups in Caversham and Emmer Green, concerning SODC's recent planning assessment of potential housing developments near the Reading border. For some background read the letter sent by Kidmore End PC to SODC.
The Gladman Inquiry opened Tuesday 1 May and heard evidence on landscape, transport and from interested parties including CADRA, who strongly objected to the development (Our statement). Paul Matthews did an excellent job as professional transport witness and prepared a very detailed statement .
The remainder of the inquiry was deferred until August 29th. This was because a statement of South Oxfordshire Council's (SODC) housing land supply for 5.4 years was only available shortly before the inquiry. A significant part of Gladman's case was the absence of a 5.4 year land supply, which SODC can now demonstrate.
The SODC Statement of Case submitted before their latest 5.4 year housing plan.
CADRA's objections to this proposal were submitted to the inquiry: CADRA's objections. Reading Borough Council confirmed they will support South Oxfordshire District Council in resisting the appeal in the light of the inadequacy of infrastructure and services.
These are the details of the Gladman planning application submitted to SODC: P16/S3630/O
Although South Oxfordshire District Council had been expected to recommend refusal of this application, the planning officer finally recommended approval. Following substantial opposition from Parish Councils and individuals in South Oxfordshire, Caversham and Emmer Green, the Planning Committee decided to refuse the application. The developer, then Gladman submitted an appeal.
14 November 2018
The presentation ‘The Changing Thames’ given by Terry Marsh, Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford at CADRA's Autumn 2108 meeting is now available to view.
12 September 2018
CADRA’s Autumn Meeting is on Tuesday 6th November, 7.45 pm at Thameside School, Harley Rd, Caversham. It will include a talk on ‘The Changing Thames’ from Terry Marsh, Honorary Fellow of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Wallingford.
To read more from Terry: The Thames - a study in change
18 August 2018
The UK Parliament launched an inquiry into the decline of the bus market in England, outside London. Submissions closed on 24th September 2018. More details at:
UK Parliament bus market inquiry
Given the current concerns about the Caversham bus services, this is an opportunity for us all to express ours views for the future. You may wish to give your thoughts on: what the basic criteria should be for an urban service (e.g. frequency, reliability, distance to the nearest stop, ease of connections to hospitals, schools and transport hubs), how bus companies are compensated for concessionary bus pass passengers, the impact of congestion, how should bus companies be regulated and monitored.
