Thursday 23rd August 2001
Present: Mr
Paul Gallagher, Mrs Jill Verran, Mrs Margaret Ormonde, Mr David Miles,
Mr Brian Warren, Mrs Anne Ayres, Mr B Cruickshank, Mr G Goldsmith
1.Apologies
Mrs Sue Ballard Mr Bill Harper Mrs Vera Bodman
2.Minutes
of the last meeting (10th May 2001) were approved
3.Matters
arising
Precinct Car Park
Work had been undertaken to repair the paving slabs outside the shops and generally
improve the area. A barrier had been erected at the entrance to the car park
to prevent tall vehicles entering, and although this had been demolished once,
it had now been replaced.
Highdown
Recycling Site / Clayfield Copse Car Park
No real progress had been made on improving the surfaces of these sites. The
chairman took an action to chase RBC for a progress report.
Parking
along Kidmore End Road
The situation remained the same with regard to car parking along
the road, particularly at the junction with Grove Road. The problem
had been exacerbated
by the new bus route, which meant that no less than six buses an hour were
now using the road. However it wasn’t a simple issue of sending up the
traffic wardens, as often, local residents had nowhere else to park. Margaret
Ormonde agreed to contact Annette Hendry to see if the Councillors still had
plans to conduct a survey of car owners in the vicinity.
Communications
Masts
Concerns continued, and a petition organised by Julian Pollock of
Peppard Road had successfully persuaded Reading Borough Council not
to go ahead with the
proposed mast on the triangle of land at the junction of Surley Row and Peppard
Road. However they were now obliged to find an alternative site in the area.
The 15 metre mast destined for the White Horse was on private property, and
as it wasn’t illegal its fate was in the hands of Greene King the brewers.
Paul Gallagher was to pursue Chris Brown the new Lib Dem Councillor to see
how things stood, and whether local residents should actively protest.
Junction
of Kidmore End Road and Peppard Road
Committee members had ensured that the Council did not forget to cut the triangle
of grass overlooking the pond, although things were far from perfect. The missing
bricks had been found and replaced. There were concerns when the roof of the
Bookies had been refelted, because the tar was being prepared on the bricked
paving, but this had largely been cleared away. Unfortunately the RBC refuse
bin assigned to the Newsagent still remains at the front of the premises, creating
a local eyesore. Both the Hairdressers and the Bookies have no objections to
it returning to its former location, the Council approve and the Newsagent
says he agrees.
St
Barnabas Road Verges
Bob Cruickshank reported that the council had arranged for a team of workmen
from Bolton to replace the missing topsoil, and for those householders who
were lucky enough to be home on the day, remove debris left behind when the
road was resurfaced.
Website
The website, created and maintained by association member Clive Ormonde was
now up and running and had attracted at least one person to contact the
association through the site. Despite attempts to ensure we were on a search
engine this had not materialised and it was thought it might help if we
established links to our site from other groups. Some posters had been
put up advertising the site, but Caversham Library had not yet displayed
theirs.
4.Treasurer’s
Report
This was circulated and showed both the cash flow position for the
Millennium book account and the Associations Building Society account.
The former had
a total inflow of £5,022.24 and the latter a balance of £2,474.92.
5.Feedback
from Committees
North Reading Youth Project
Some of the surplus funds had been used to improve facilities within the Emmer
Green Community Centre, such as resurfacing the floor and providing a frieze
made by local art students.
Safer
Caversham Forum
The proposed street lighting had been abandoned because of objections from
nearby residents, but extra lighting along the walkway from the surgery to
Eric Avenue was being proposed by Cllr Hendry.
Anti-Car
Crime Week
Members of the Emmer Green Residents’ Association were singled out for
praise for their contribution to the volunteer workforce. The work involved
checking parked cars to ensure they were locked and that no valuables had been
left on display. A friendly reminder was stuck to the windscreen where it was
felt security needed to be improved. Particularly enlightening was the session
at the Hill’s Meadow car park where stolen goods were spotted, and a
sleeping baby left in an unattended car.
North
Reading Area Consultative Committee
There had been now recent meeting of this group and thus there was nothing
to report.
6.Any
Other Business
Petty
Crime
Air gun pellets had been shot through a window of a kitchen in St Barnabas
Road. The police did respond eventually, but no action was taken apart from
a letter offering counselling for the victim. There was a spate of vandalism
and petty crime at the northern end of Highdown Hill Road. It was known who
the perpetrators were, but things were not pursued because of a lack of evidence.
Committee member Brian Warren lived very near to the area and was a useful
point of contact for those affected.
Planning
Applications
The rush to infill land with new houses continued unabated, and although
the committee didn’t oppose this in principal, it was concerned
that the housing suited the area, and that the majority of local
residents were happy
with the development and construction caused the least disruption. Bell Court,
behind the recreation ground was now nearing completion, and although there
had been some minor differences over the retention of the hedge, the buildings
themselves were quite stylish and fitted well into the area. There was no news
on the site opposite, but further down Kidmore End Road behind nos. 46-52 Mr
Ralph Ivens of Barnstaple had submitted plans for two large detached high quality
houses. Whilst the committee had no objections to building on the site it was
felt that consideration should be given to the type and size of property, and
perhaps, also to compatibility with existing surrounding dwellings.
Water
Problems
Mr Geoff Goldsmith reported that due to problems with the water pressure, there
had been a mini flood in Rosehill Park, causing the roadway to rise. Repairs
had since been carried out, but the road surface had been left in a bit of
a mess.
Chambers
Copse
In the light of new evidence, there had been an appeal hearing at SODC on 16th
August, and new witnesses called to speak. Unfortunately, things were no different
from last year and it was highly unlikely that the path would be re-opened
whilst under the present ownership.
7.
Date of next meeting
8:00 Thursday 22 November at 23 Tredegar Road.
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