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• Archive Index 2010

News Archive - Week Beginning 14th February 2010

The editors say: This week's news sees the normal dismal local politics and crime. Of far more interest - and probably use to the community - is the launch of the local CAMRA real ale trail. We think pubs are important to an area. If this helps them, then that can only be a good thing. Read more.

Caversham People

A team led by Mayor of Reading (and Mapledurham’s Councillor) Fred Pugh and including Reading East MP Rob Wilson, Cllr Andrew Cumpsty and Cllr Isobel Ballsdon took part in the annual charity pancake race at Reading’s Broad Street on Shrove Tuesday. The team was beaten by a team from the Oracle shopping centre – whose prize included a meal at Caversham’s Bina Tandoori. (Reading Post 17/02/10 p3)

Crime

A feature on unsolved crimes in the Reading area revisits the murder of seven-year old Emily Salvini, a pupil at Caversham Primary School, who died in May 1997 from smoke inhalation following an arson attack at her family’s home in Hemdean Road. The case is one of those under the remit of the Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Review Team – which reviews the case for new evidence on a periodic basis. (Get Reading 19/02/10 pp1,2)

‘Get Reading’ reports that a teenage girl’s house party in Brackstone Close, lower Caversham on the night of Saturday, February 6th was targeted by gatecrashers – who stole her parent’s car, as well as a mobile phone and a games console. The car was later recovered from Bluebell Gardens, Emmer Green. In the words of Caversham Police Inspector Penny Mackenzie: “if there is a lesson to be learnt from this it is not to let your children have parties at home”. (Get Reading 19/02/10 p3)

A gang of 13 and 14 year-old boys wearing balaclavas are said to have attacked a 10-year old girl walking to Micklands Primary School at around 8.20am on the morning of Wednesday, 10th February on the Lower Henley Road. Police are investigating the incident – anyone with information should call Tel: 01865 841148. (Reading Post 17/02/10 p10)

Elections

The Labour Party in Reading has announced the last of its candidates for the borough elections on May 6th. In Caversham, Lesley Owen, a long-term resident who has been a governor at Thameside and chair of governors at Caversham Nursery, will be standing for election. She will be joined by former Labour councillor Helen Hathaway, who is standing again in Peppard, and by Nick Stringer for Thames Ward. Mr Stringer has worked as office manager for Reading West MP Martin Salter since August 2008. (Reading Post 17/02/10 p32, Reading Chronicle 18/02/10 p13)

Environment - Consultations

Three Council consultations relating to the local environment (and of relevance to RG4 residents) are currently taking place, with a series of exhibitions detailing the proposals taking place at various Reading locations over the next few weeks. These include an exhibition at Caversham Library on the afternoon of Thursday, March 4th). In each case, the consultation process ends on Friday, April 2nd.

The first consultation relates to the RBC’s Sites and Detailed Policies Document (SDPD). This is an amalgamation of the Council’s Site Allocations Document and Development Management Document, which the RBC consulted on in late 2008. Several RG4 sites fall under the remit of the SDPD – full details can be found here. The SDPD is accompanied by a Proposals Map.

The Council is also consulting on the Reading Station Area Framework (see item under ‘Planning’ below), which contains details for development of the station area and particularly the area to the north of the station (i.e. the approach for RG4 residents and others from north of the river), and provides details as to how this area should be integrated with the Town Centre. Further details are available via this link.

Finally, the RBC has launched a Draft Tree Strategy for Reading. The strategy takes the form of a corporate document on the management of protection, management and planting of trees, setting out the proposed priorities. It can be viewed via this link. A series of local exhibitions accompanies the consultation, with responses to be returned to the RBC by Friday, April 2nd. A variety of methods of contacting the Council are available, including an online form here. There is also a local exhibition discussing the matter at Caversham Library on the afternoon (2.00pm – 7.00pm) of Thursday, March 4th. (RBC Website, Get Reading 19/02/10 p7)

Environment – King’s Meadow

A letter from Anne Jessel of the King’s Meadow Campaign (KMC) provides an update on its efforts to restore the open air baths at the site (also check out our ‘issues’ pages with regards the King’s Meadow saga). The emphasis of the letter is on fund-raising initiatives for the baths, with methods including ‘registering a brick’ at the site. The KMC has two years to come up with ‘viable actioned plans’ for the open air baths – further details can be found on its website.

(Reading Post 17/02/10 p12)

Parking

The RBC is planning a consultation for the summer of this year with regards a proposed overhaul of the residents' parking scheme in Reading. It would mean a reduction in the number of parking zones from 52 to about a dozen, effectively offering one space for the 7,800 people currently included. Conservative Leader (and Caversham councillor) Andrew Cumpsty said that he was “broadly very supportive of the scheme, understanding the real need for it, particularly in areas north of the river (i.e Caversham and Emmer Green). He said: “As a Caversham Ward councillor, it is the number one issue that gets raised and is extremely emotive”. (Reading Post 17/02/10 p3)

Planning

The RBC is planning a major event at the Town Hall, open to the public, on Monday, March 22nd with regards publicising the proposals contained in the Reading Station Area Framework. Of particular concern are the proposals for the northern area of the station (fronting the Vastern Road and the approaches to Caversham). The proposals are said to include ‘landmark buildings’ for north of the station, which will not be as tall as the ‘cluster of skyscrapers’ proposed for Station Hill. The measures contained in the Framework are also said to include a pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Thames east of Piper’s Island – the footbridge from Caversham’s Christchurch Meadows to the Vastern Road that has previously been mentioned with regards the Transport Innovation Fund (TiF) bid, and which is dependent on the RBC winning Tif funding. RBC lead councillor for strategic planning and transport, Labour’s Tony Page said at the RBC Cabinet Meeting on Monday, February 15th that this was not the long-awaited ‘third Thames Bridge’ which would cross the river from Wokingham Borough to South Oxfordshire but “a bonus bridge”. (Get Reading 19/02/10 pp1-2)

Police

More than 100 people attended the police-initiated relaunch of the Upper Caversham Neighbourhood Action Group (NAG) on the evening of Tuesday, February 9th. The meeting at Highdown allowed residents to have their say about issues in the area: the top three priorities set out were traffic (specifically speeding, cycling on the pavement and cycle thefts), burglary and environmental issues like lighting and noise. The first meeting of the reformed NAG will take place on Tuesday, March 23rd at Highdown School between 6pm and 8pm. Those wishing to attend should contact Inspector Mackenzie on the TVP non-emergency phone number 01865 841148. (Reading Chronicle 18/02/10 p34, Get Reading 19/02/10 p17)

Public Order

Local police are urging Caversham residents not to give food or money to beggars in the RG4 area. The beggars are said to have moved north of river after being banned from the town centre. In the words of Caversham neighbourhood specialist officer PC Debbie Smith: “people can find begging very intimidating and the neighbourhood policing team is committed to improving the quality of life for those who work and live in Caversham…” (Reading Post 17/02/10 p32)

Pubs

The Reading and Mid Berkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) have launched their Real Ale Trail for 2010. Twenty eight local pubs are taking part – a completed trail leaflet can be sent off for the chance to win 36 pints of local beer. Pubs taking part include Caversham’s Griffin and Baron Cadogan, as well the Black Horse in Emmer Green. More details on the local CAMRA site here. The connected prize draw takes place on the 1st May. (Reading Post 17/02/10 p10)

Reading - Council Tax

The Labour minority administration of the RBC proposed at the Council’s cabinet meeting on Monday, February 15th that council tax should rise by 2.2% for 2010-2011. However, the Labour Party needs at least one of the other parties on the council to back its budget, and the Conservatives’ Andrew Cumpsty (a councillor for Caversham Ward) has said that the plan is unacceptable. In his words: “we have been consistent in calling for a freeze on council tax. That’s the minimum we’ll be looking for this year”. A decision on the matter could be taken at the full council meeting scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, February 23rd at the Civic Centre. (Reading Chronicle 18/02/10 p13, Get Reading 17/02/10 p2)

Reading – City Status

The RBC Cabinet at its meeting on Monday, February 15th agreed to press ahead with the town’s bid to win city status, and set up a partnership board to oversee plans. The board will include ‘representatives from the business, public, voluntary and community sectors and should have representatives from all political parties’. However, leader of the Liberal Democrats Councillor Kirsten Bayes told the cabinet: “we remain to be convinced by this. The town faces a number of challenges, one of which is not becoming a city…”. (Get Reading 19/02/10 p10)

Traffic

RBC lead councillor for strategic planning and transport, Labour’s Tony Page, has written a public letter to Transport Minister Sadiq Khan urging him to come to a quick decision (i.e. pre-election) on the Council’s £58.5m Transport Innovation Fund (TiF) bid. The bid has been put together working with Wokingham BC, Oxfordshire CC, Hampshire CC and Bracknell Forest BC – West Berkshire Council has pulled out, objecting to any plans for congestion charging. (Reading Post 17/02/10 p17)