CADRA Monthly Round-up April

CADRA AGM Tues. 11^th June and William Marshal
As this is the 800^th anniversary of the death of William Marshal, here in Caversham, we are delighted that Tom Asbridge from Queen Mary University of London has agreed to speak at our AGM. Tom is the author of the well respected book, "The Greatest Knight" and has presented a number of TV programmes about William Marshal. 7.30 pm, Thameside School, Harley Road

As one of the greatest figures in medieval England, William needs to be commemorated here, where he lived and died. So, we are working with the Civic Society and the Council to place an information panel about him on Caversham Bridge, looking towards his Manor House. We still need to raise about £1000 of the £4300 cost. You can find a form for a gift-aided donation on our website https://www.cadra.org.uk and we will be collecting at the AGM.

Planning on the Northern Boundary
Part of Reading Golf Club lies in Emmer Green, within Reading Borough, and a larger part over the border in South Oxfordshire. Of the Reading portion, the Local Plan shows part for housing development.

Working with Fairfax, a company which assembles sites, the Club has committed to merging with the Caversham Heath Club over the next two years, moving golf activities there with additional facilities. They aim to release the existing course for development of around 700 houses across the whole of their land, covering both the Reading and South Oxfordshire portions. At this stage, they are engaging with local groups such as CADRA to outline their ideas, including the community benefits they envisage as part of their package.

We are concerned at this prospect, which is inconsistent with the final dismissal of Gladman's appeal nearby and South Oxfordshire's dismissal of this site in their review of development sites, which we outlined previously. But CADRA is reserving its position until clearer ideas develop, and we will keep you informed.

Oxfordshire County Council are holding a preliminary consultation on a plan up to 2050, and at this stage are inviting suggestions on potential development sites and environmental safeguards. We have suggested that the continuing development pressures on Reading's northern boundary could be resolved by a protective designation such as Green Belt, and we have asked them and Reading BC to consider this.

Flood Prevention
The Environment Agency's (EA) proposals for large-scale flood prevention works on both sides of the river, but particularly on the Caversham side, will have a big impact on the riverside environment, especially through tree loss and the excavation of a very large channel across part of Christchurch Meadows. We are in touch with the EA and supporting the excellent work of the recently-formed Campaign for a Better Flood Alleviation Scheme (CABFAS), who among other things are focused on limiting immediate damage from the EA's site investigation works. Full details are on their website https://www.cabfas.org

Transport
A group from CADRA have had an initial meeting with the incoming CEO of Reading Buses, Robert Williams. We look forward to a productive dialogue.

Licensing
The 'Tea Party', a large pop festival proposed on the riverside near Rivermead, is now unlikely to go ahead.

Don't forget that we will be sharing other news, as it arises, on the CADRA Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cavershamresidents. You can also view this from the Home page at http://www.cadra.org.uk and there is no need to register.

Published: 2019-04-16 14:46:26
Updated: 2021-12-01 00:12:07

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