CADRA News Caversham & District Residents’ Association the Voice of Caversham Since 1967
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Volume 21, Issue 1, May 2021 www.cadra.org.uk CADRA News Caversham & District Residents’ Association The Voice of Caversham since 1967 Reading Abbey and Reading Gaol fter a year with no open meetings or talks, we are A delighted to welcome John Painter to illustrate and explain the overlapping histories of Reading Abbey and Reading Gaol. Important sections of the Abbey lie beneath the Gaol, and the development of the Gaol was in turn influenced by the Abbey. And of course, we all wait with interest to know more about the future of the Gaol. Although we can anticipate some easing of restrictions, the talk will be held online. Register for free through Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/c4xjusb2 to be sent an access link. The formal business of the AGM is being managed separately, as in 2020, and all members have been contacted by email or letter. After 36 years working at Reading Borough Council, John Painter was keen to support the council’s efforts to consolidate the Abbey Ruins and get them re-opened to the public access. He has been active with Friends of Reading Abbey for ten years. In this time, he has given a range of talks and co-authored Reading Abbey and the Abbey Quarter, published by Two Rivers Press. He is also involved with Reading Male Voice Choir, who will celebrate 50 years Photograph: Matt Emmett, Forgotten Heritage, www.forgottenheritage.co.uk with a concert on 2 July. In 2016, Reading Gaol was open to visitors through the Banking – Nationwide Artangel project ‘Inside: Artists and Writers in Reading Sadly, the last banking facility in Caversham closed on 22 Prison’. The wonderful photographs taken during this time April. CADRA was in correspondence with Senior Managers by Matt Emmett (Forgotten Heritage) will feature in John at Nationwide and attended a meeting convened by Matt Painter’s presentation. Rodda, MP who is now exploring other options for some The 900th anniversary of the foundation of the Abbey form of local service. on 18 June 2021 is especially important for Reading, and We have compiled a list of local ATMs you may find there is a growing list of events. The flagship celebration helpful: www.cadra.org.uk/uploads/wysiwyg_editor/ will be Water Fest on Saturday 19 June. Tickets are free files/news/ATM%20list.pdf. but you must book your entry time in advance at https:// The results of a number of current Community Access to whatsonreading.com/waterfest900. You will find Cash Pilots elsewhere may yield viable solutions, including a range of other links at the Friends’ website www. ‘Bank Hubs’, that could, in time, be implemented locally: readingabbey.org.uk. Helen Lambert https://communityaccesstocashpilots.org. Tuesday 22 June 2021, 7.30pm Reading Abbey and Reading Goal Speaker: John Painter, Friends of Reading Abbey Online event – register at Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/c4xjusb2 www.cadra.org.uk Transport Safer Caversham Reading Transport CADRA attends the Safer Neighbour- and prohibition from the local area. Strategy 2036 hood Forum for North Reading and the Incidents should be reported to 101 or Safer Reading Forum – an umbrella [email protected]. Consultation on the draft Reading group to address common issues with uk. Transport Strategy 2036 closed last senior representatives from Thames Community Speedwatch is currently August. Consultation on Oxfordshire’s Valley Police. Police resources and staff in abeyance. The aim is to put the draft transport blueprint closed March turnover are a major constraint. emphasis back into the community, 2021. There are significant gaps Following two tragic events releasing officers back to the front line. between the two plans which have involving knife crime, extra resources Training will in due course be provided still to be addressed. Far more joint were brought in during Operation for all volunteers. working is needed if the problems Sceptre and 25 arrests made. There is Caversham often sees problems with which beset Caversham, Henley and a continuing emphasis on education in rogue traders offering repair services to the South Oxfordshire villages are to be schools about knife crime dangers. scam elderly residents, so it is excellent properly addressed. Theft of bicycles has been a regular news that Trading Standards have Last November the Council secured problem, particularly from sheds and recently made a successful prosecution. £1.179m from the Department for garages. Motorbike nuisance and the arrival of Transport from the national Active Begging in the centre of Caversham Travellers have caused problems on Travel Fund. This would allow some remains a concern. One individual open spaces. Providing a transit site for key missing links in cycle lanes to be is in prison and, on release, will be Travellers would increase the powers created. The Council sought views on issued with a Criminal Behaviour available to the Council and Police. which of four schemes to progress and Order (CBO) that prohibits entering ‘Have Your Say’ meetings are more details will be available later this the Caversham area. PCSOs are restarting. Please do use these and year. Discussion took place within the looking at breaches of the Public other reporting mechanisms shown Cleaner Air and Safer Transport Forum Safety Protection Order issued for (for at www.cadra.org.uk/en/Safer- which CADRA attends. example) aggressive begging, which Caversham. Community reports are would warrant the issue of a CBO critical to combat crime and nuisance. Waste and Conservation recyling Four members of CADRA contribute status. This heritage-led regeneration, to the work of Reading’s Conservation with £800,000 match-funded by RBC Following the introduction of the food Area Advisory Committee (CAAC). over four years, is intended to: waste collection, Reading has now As well as commenting on planning • enhance the understanding of exceeded the 50% national target for applications in Conservation Areas, Reading’s heritage and give the recycling. the CAAC has just completed a draft community a sense of ownership You can find details of what appraisal for the London Street/ • improve the physical condition of to recycle where at https://re3. Market Place Conservation Area with buildings and the viability of the fccenvironment.co.uk/recylo and proposed expanded boundaries. Along high streets also download the App which includes with reappraisal of the St Mary’s Butts/ ways to report any bins missed. Castle Street Conservation Area, it • develop a comprehensive strategy Flytipping is a regular issue, though is intended that most of the town to improve the public realm reports have not increased. The centre with historic buildings will be • support local businesses, the local enforcement team continues to identify within a Conservation Area and have community and cultural initiatives. offenders and welcomes reports at appropriate enhanced protection. These measures, along with the https://loveclean.reading.gov.uk/ These two central Conservation appointment of Reading’s first reports/home. Areas together with the Castle Conservation and Urban Design Hill/Russell Street/Oxford Road Officer, are significant steps towards a Conservation Area are receiving better understanding and appreciation funding from Historic England and of Conservation Areas across Reading. High Street Heritage Action Zone CADRA News Volume 21, Issue 1, May 2021 2 www.cadra.org.uk Planning The committee reviews applications every month via the and the river, and these were two of the principal reasons monthly list available on the CADRA website. This gives for refusal. For some years, CADRA has consistently links to the application details and to CADRA comments. highlighted the need for a co-ordinated design to apply not only to this site but also to the adjoining Aviva and Hermes North of the river sites, which make up the proposed new route. The views The application for Reading Golf Club is expected to be through from the station, and soft and hard landscaping, heard in Planning Committee in June, and CADRA is in will be important to a new link from Christchurch Bridge to contact with other local groups. Other applications on the town centre. which CADRA commented include proposed conversions in Prospect Street and Bridge Street, extensions in Balmore South Oxfordshire Drive, new buildings on the riverbank and a new application The SODC Local Plan was adopted December 2020, and on Gosbrook Road to demolish and rebuild next to the listed two legal challenges have failed. The retrospective planning farmhouse. The enforcement notice appeal relating to the application for Caversham Lakes has yet to be decided, and HMO on St Johns Road is due this month. there are major conflicts between the wildlife site and the recreational facilities now open. Around Caversham Road Approval had been given for a single dwelling at ‘The Belltower Association, the CAAC and the RBC Conservation Piggery’ off Gravel Lane. A new application for 6 dwellings Officer all presented to the appeal at the appeal hearing would be far more intrusive. against refusal to demolish the Drews building. A decision is still to be announced. Planning policy changes The application by Berkeley Homes for 209 flats on part Following the issue of the White Paper in August 2020, of the SSE site, south of Christchurch Bridge and between there was a further consultation in December for new the River Thames and the Station, was unanimously Permitted Development Rights. This is well explained at rejected by the March Planning Committee. CADRA had https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research- raised concerns about the height of the building adjacent briefings/cbp-8981. Major changes are expected in a new to the river and the alignment, coherence and legibility of Planning Bill. the new pedestrian and cycle route between the station Ward boundaries Following the elections on 6 May 2021, we are showing the up-to-date list of local councillors on the back page.