For this year’s Heritage Open Days festival the Whitley Pump will be leading a walk around the IDR on Sunday 16 September at 11am.
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Housing
Reading Borough Council discusses Redlands ward at planning applications committee this week
Reading Borough Council will be discussing issues in Redlands ward during planning applications committee next week.
Reading’s New Local Plan moves forward to last stages
The Pheasant
Whitley Pump roundabout
Waterloo Meadows
Old Lok n’Store site
The Kennet
Reading, from the South Hill 1882. Reproduced from Illustrated London News.
You can now read everything you ever wanted to know about Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) new local plan on a dedicated web page. Once adopted, it will be the main planning document for Reading until 2036.
Reading East MP Matt Rodda tackles houses in multiple occupation
Matt Rodda, Katesgrove councillor and Reading East MP
Reading East MP Matt Rodda used the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) debate in Westminster Hall on 21 March to ask the government about the national lack of affordable accommodation that has resulted in a proliferation of HMOs in Reading.
Reading East MP Matt Rodda speaks out on local authority funding
Matt Rodda, Katesgrove councillor and Reading East MP
Reading East MP Matt Rodda spoke in the parliamentary debate about the National Audit Office (NAO) report on the financial sustainability of local authorities on 20 March.
Thames Valley Police come to the Whitley Community Café on 22 February
The Church and Whitley neighbourhood policing team will hold a Whitley Community Surgery on Thursday 22 February at 10.00am at Whitley Community Café, 252 Northumberland Avenue .
Whitley MP Alok Sharma says new build leasehold ‘has got to stop’
In a parliamentary debate on 21 December 2017, Reading West MP Alok Sharma (Conservative), who is also the minister for housing in the department for communities and local government, condemned property companies’ practice of imposing high and increasing ground rents on leaseholders.
The church of the shining fields
If you are out on the local roadway or on the pavements grey and you are looking for an interesting walk or a peaceful place to visit, then just over the old Whitley borders across the M4 there is a beautiful church that is almost a thousand years old.
Matt Rodda interview: My priorities as Reading East MP
Matt Rodda with fellow Katesgrove councillors Sophia James (L) and Rose Williams (R) at the Katesgrove councillors’ surgery at Pau Brasil on Silver Street
The Whitley Pump met Matt Rodda, still Katesgrove councillor but more preoccupied with Westminster business these days, in the Global Cafe at RISC on London Street. He explained how he was pushing for things in Parliament that local people wanted and his top three priorities were to fight austerity, fight against hard Brexit and provide more affordable housing.
Latest on Reading’s New Local Plan
Christchurch Conservation Area
The final chance to have your say on the Reading Borough Council (RBC) New Local Plan, which sets the foundations for planning in Reading until 2036, ends on Friday 26 January 2018. The plan will then go to the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) with all the comments made on this version of the plan.
Apollo, After Dark and the Central Club: “when the music hits you, you can feel no pain”
Matthew Farrall (left) and David Archibald (right), making a sign for ‘Africa’
I was on a lunchtime walk from work with colleagues recently and among them was Jamaican-born Rastafarian, David Archibald. David’s knowledge of the Afro-Caribbean history of three Katesgrove buildings had us all enthralled. He gave us some real insight into the cultural and socio-political side of life growing up in Reading in the 70s and 80s. With vivid joy, he talked of the great times he had at the Apollo Youth Club, the Caribbean Club and the Central Club; David explained most of his life at the time revolved around social gatherings with music at the heart of everything.
Reading 2050: the Emperor has no clothes
The Emperor has no clothes
A Vision for Reading 2050 has been published. What is it all about beyond the garish bright pink cover and the migraine inducing rainbow coloured graphics?
Stay well with help from the council’s Winter Watch
Councillor Graeme Hoskin, Reading Borough Council lead member for health. Photo (c) RBC.
Reading Borough Council (RBC) have launched their annual Winter Watch scheme to provide support and information over the colder months. The scheme is designed to help elderly or disabled people and low-income families with emergency heating, bedding and energy payments as well as offering damp-proofing and home energy checks.
Public consultation on gypsy and traveller accommodation
Reading Borough Council (RBC) are carrying out a consultation on the provision of sites for gypsy and traveller accommodation. The consultation period ends on 24 October 2017 at 5pm.
Council provides extra help for rough sleepers over winter
Reading Borough Council (RBC) will make extra emergency beds available this winter so that homeless people do not have to sleep outside in freezing conditions.
Local people hear about housing developments too late, says Reading West MP Alok Sharma
The Reading West MP Alok Sharma (Conservative), minister for housing and planning in the department for communities and local government, said in a parliamentary debate on 5 September that local people hear about new housing schemes far too late.
“All fees on tenants need to be banned” says Reading West MP Alok Sharma
Alok Sharma. Parliamentary copyright images are reproduced with the permission of Parliament.
The Reading West MP Alok Sharma (Conservative), the minister for housing and planning in the department for communities and local government, has announced a government proposal to ban charging fees to tenants who rent accommodation.
14 June deadline to comment on Reading’s New Local Plan
September 2016
Christchurch Conservation Area
Waterloo Meadows
The consultation on Reading’s new local plan will end at 5pm on Wednesday 14 June.
New Local Plan for Reading
Reading Borough Council (RBC) are consulting on the draft local plan which sets out the planning framework for Reading until 2036. The plan includes general policies on planning principles such as sustainability, green space and heritage as well as area plans.
Katesgrove, the urban village
By John Dearing.
Sherman Road
West Hill
Early in 1980 I wanted to move from Maidenhead to Reading, where houses were cheaper. I contacted an estate agent and one Saturday in May I collected details of four properties, three of which were in Katesgrove. After the usual laborious process of house purchase, I moved to Sherman Road in October 1980. By 2015 more than half my life had been spent at this address.
