The government planning inspector who examined Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) new local plan has advised that clarification is needed on the policy on student accommodation developments. The local plan will guide Reading’s planning policy until 2036, and this is the first time that Reading will have had a planning policy on development for student housing.
Alok Sharma, Conservative MP for Reading West and the minister of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), took part in a debate on Universal Credit and Debt on Wednesday 5 June. The debate had been requested by Ruth George, Labour MP for High Peak and took place in Westminster Hall.
Matt Rodda (Labour MP for Reading East) and Alok Sharma (Conservative MP for Reading West) voted in parliament on the four indicative Brexit votes selected by the speaker on 1 April: Joanna Cherry’s motion G, Mr Clarke’s motion C, Nick Boles’s motion D and Peter Kyle’s motion E.
Both Matt Rodda (Labour MP for Reading East) and Alok Sharma (Conservative MP for Reading West) took part in Westminster’s carnival of indicative votes on Wednesday 27 March.
The House of Commons voted on seven amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Act yesterday evening. Reading MPs, Matt Rodda (Labour MP for Reading East) and Alok Sharma (Conservative MP for Reading West), voted opposite ways on six of the seven amendments.
Pell Street looking west
Nikolaus Pevsner‘s edition of the Berkshire volume of ‘Buildings of England’ was published in 1966, the thirtieth county guide of forty-six. The Reading section starts with the Abbey, followed by churches and finally public buildings.
Clarendon House (foreground) and Verto (background)
When we walked around the IDR on 16 September for this year’s Heritage Open Days, the number of new property developments along its route became astoundingly clear. In an anti-clockwise direction we first passed, on the south side of Queen’s Road, New Century Place where both blocks have recently been converted from offices to studio apartments.
Reading East MP Matt Rodda (Labour) called upon the government to reject a ‘no deal’ Brexit in the Leaving the EU: No Deal debate in Westminster on 19 December.
In advance of the start of the five day Brexit debate, the House of Commons debated and voted on a motion tabled by Keir Starmer (shadow secretary of state for exiting the European Union) on parliamentary privilege.
In the House of Commons on 5 September, Reading East MP Matt Rodda expressed concern that the government’s Tenant Fees Bill didn’t adequately protect tenants from unreasonable landlord fees. He voted for amendments suggested by the opposition Labour party, but these were defeated by the Government.
The ski jump at the end of the IDR in 1984. The Hook and Tackle is the on the left, painted white.
Having carved its way from Caversham Road to the foot of Southampton Street, in the 1970s Reading’s Inner Distribution Road (IDR) stopped abruptly at the ‘ski jump’ where the Oracle roundabout now is. During this hiatus, Reading consulted and debated about whether and how to continue.
The IDR as it was intended to be built at the time that Stage I was under construction.
Construction of Reading’s Inner Distribution Road (IDR) started in 1969, but it had been included in development plans since 1957 and no doubt was a twinkle in someone’s eye some time before that. It still bothers Reading’s civic soul when proposals are brought forward to make it one-way or to cover over part of it or turn it into a park.
By Wynne Frankum
1873 school on Katesgrove Lane
Good better best,
never let it rest,
’till your good is better
and your better best.
This was the Victorian rhyme learnt by heart by pupils visiting the Katesgrove schoolroom. It became our mantra when setting up the Victorian schoolroom. Artefacts and lessons used in the schoolroom had to be thoroughly researched and, as far as the budget allowed, historically accurate.
The IDR as it was intended to be built at the time that Stage I was under construction.
The Whitley Pump is leading a walk around Reading’s Inner Distribution Road (IDR) as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days in September. Reading’s post-war history, in which it transformed from a primarily industrial to a retail town, circle the IDR like the IDR circles the town centre.
Reading Borough Council (RBC) are consulting on how the Hosier Street area in the town centre should be developed. Some tall buildings are under consideration which could change the view from Katesgrove’s Hill Street.
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.
Reading Borough Council will be discussing issues in Redlands ward during planning applications committee next week.
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.
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.
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.
