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.
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 .
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.
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 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.
