Season’s
Greetings
The
committee wishes all members an enjoyable Christmas and a healthy New
Year. Again, thanks to all members for your invaluable support over
the last year. Since the summer the marketing campaign for the Emmer
Green book has resulted in over 40 new members joining the Association
resulting in a membership of over 350 households out of about 2,500
households in the area.
Bill
Goodworth
It
is with great sadness that we have to report that long serving committee
member Bill Goodworth died of heart failure on Sunday 30 September.
Bill had served on the committee for sixteen years, including terms
of office as Vice-Chairman and Secretary, and at the last AGM his unstinting
and invaluable contributions were recognised with a presentation of
an inscribed pewter tankard. Bill’s funeral was held on 10 October
at St Barnabas Church and his widow, Peggy, asked that any remembrances
should be in the form of donations towards an ECG heart machine for
the Emmer Green Surgery. A tribute was published in the December issue
of the Bridge newspaper.
Caversham Park (BBC Monitoring)
Following
the much appreciated illustrated talk at the last AGM by guest speaker
Bet Tickner on the history and work of BBC Monitoring based in Caversham
Park, the Association asked if a visit might be arranged during the
summer to the house and gardens. BBC Monitoring agreed to open Caversham
Park as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days on the Sunday
afternoon of 9 September 2001. This was so popular that the visit was
greatly oversubscribed with many people being disappointed not to gain
entry. It is hoped that BBC Monitoring will repeat the event in a future
year.
Car
Theft Awareness Week
During
the week 16-22 July the Caversham Safer Forum mounted a car theft awareness
campaign covering the area’s car parks in particular but also
many streets in Caversham and Emmer Green. This consisted of placing
different leaflets on car windscreens dependent upon whether the car
was well secured with no valuables visible or was not secure and/or
had valuables on show. The Association supplied about half the manpower,
which was much appreciated and gratefully acknowledged by the Forum.
There were many amusing reports related about incidents that occurred
during the week. One in particular involved the finding of several
car radios sitting on the back seat of one vehicle with three more
plus a ghetto blaster tucked away in the nearby hedge. Whilst the accompanying
policeman radioed in these findings he and the leafleter were interrupted
by the car park ticket attendant and when they returned to the scene
found that the ghetto blaster had disappeared. They decided to put
the remaining three car radios in the back seat of the car with the
other radios whilst they completed their leaflet exercise. However,
when they had finished and returned to the suspect vehicle they discovered
that it had been driven away whilst their backs were turned! Aiding
and abetting comes to mind!
Safer
Forum Small Grants
Through
the Safer Forum the Council provides small grants to address issues
associated with safety or to combat crime. In Emmer Green it had been
proposed that street lighting be installed along the footpath between
Stuart Close and Surley Row to help residents see their way during
hours of darkness. However, objections were raised from nearby residents
and the proposal was withdrawn. An alternative proposal was submitted
by Cllr Annette Hendry for additional lighting along the walkway from
the surgery to Eric Avenue and a survey of local residents’ views
supported this scheme. A date for the additional lights has not yet
been announced.
Millennium Book
Many
of you will have attended the very successful launch of the Association’s
book, Emmer Green - Past and Present, on Saturday, 20 October at the
St Barnabas Church Hall. This was formally launched by local MP Jane
Griffiths and was attended by Peppard Ward Councillors, representatives
from local schools and organisations and over 400 residents. The committee
were extremely worried that the printer would not deliver the books
on time but we eventually took receipt on the preceding Thursday much
to our relief. I think everyone will agree that the final product was
well worth waiting for and the thanks given to the editor, Margaret
Ormonde, at the launch are repeated here.
Advance
sales topped 400 copies and more than 100 copies were sold at the launch.
This enabled the venture to break even. Complimentary copies have been
provided to the Berkshire Records Office, the Museum of Reading, the
Central Library’s Local History Section and similar organisations.
The book was so popular that by the 19 November all 850 books had been
sold. Although the final accounts are still to be finalised, the project
has realised a small profit and it has been suggested that the Association
makes a contribution from the profit towards the ECG heart machine
for the Emmer Green Surgery. The committee would welcome views on this
idea and any alternative or additional suggestions from members.
Video of Emmer Green Remembered
This sixty minute film documents life in Emmer Green. By using old
photographs and metamorphosing them into the same scenes today it
effectively shows how
although things have changed thay are still recogniseable. Interviews are included
with longtime residents Bill Goodworth and Esme Ellingham. Clayfield Copse
is another subject covered as is Caversham Park.. The video has been produced
by a local company by the name of Business Video Solutions. Copies of the film
can be obtained from them at 3 Priors Wood, Crowthorne, RG45 6BZ (tel: 07968
025 109) or from the Caversham Bookshop, price £11.99 + £1.50 p&p.
Reading
Buses - Emmer Green service
Following
representation from the Association and other interested parties the
service to Emmer Green is now much improved. The 24 service has been
replaced by the 44 and 45 services with three buses of each every hour.
This has resulted in six buses per hour covering the northern part
of Emmer Green. The concerns about congestion in Kidmore End Road if
the two services passed at this point have not been realised with the
timing of the buses resulting in them usually passing in Courtenay
Drive. Although a couple of residents in the latter road have not been
happy with the increased number of buses past their houses a large
number of users have expressed their great pleasure that we now have
a more frequent service, particularly with the approach of more inclement
weather.
Kidmore
End Road
With
regard to congestion along this road due to parking between Chalgrove
Way and Peppard Road, safety concerns have been raised by local residents
with a variety of possible measures being proposed. The Association
requested through the local councillors that the Council undertake
a consultation with residents of Kidmore End Road before considering
any action on parking issues along this road. In September this resulted
in Councillors Annette Hendry and Bob Green together with two officers
from the Council’s Transport Management Section visiting Kidmore
End Road to review the situation. Their report is still to be issued
but the indication is that the various parking management options being
suggested for consideration would not result in a reduction of parking
places.
Highdown
Recycling facility
Following
a request from the Association that the potholes in the entrance to
the recycling facility at Highdown School be repaired and if financially
possible the area be completely resurfaced, the Council’s Technical
Services Department have notified the Association that they intend
to do the following work at this site before the end of the current
year:
1.
Make the entrance wider.
2.
Take out the grass area to the side, fill in the potholes and resurface
it.
3.
Make repairs to the wooden fence.
They
did ask if there was any financial assistance that the Association
could give to funding this work but we had to respond that with an
annual subscription from members of only £1 the Association does
not have adequate funds to make a contribution. Regardless, local taxes
should be used for such maintenance work.
Chambers
Copse
The
matter of the footpath through Chambers Copse unexpectedly resurfaced
with new evidence being presented at a fresh Inquiry at South Oxfordshire
District Council offices on 16 August. The Association’s Treasurer
attended the meeting. Fresh information was presented by new witnesses
but this was little different from previous evidence and it is highly
unlikely that the Inspector will reverse the determination made earlier.
Village
Sign
Readers
will remember that last year the Council’s North Area Consultative
Committee (NACC) provided £3,000 to support a village sign near
St Martin’s Precinct, Caversham as proposed by the Caversham
and District Residents’ Association (CADRA). A summary of CADRA’s
trials and tribulations in progressing this project were reported in
the November edition of the Caversham Bridge newspaper. A tacit agreement
was assumed in which CADRA would provide reciprocal support to EGRA
for a similar sign in Emmer Green when future funds were available
through the NACC. However, at a recent meeting of the NACC on 20 September
it became clear that there will not be any similar small capital grant
available from the Council for FY2001/02 or for the immediate future.
The
committee plan to review the cost of a sign for Emmer Green to determine
whether it is financially feasible.
Golden
Jubilee Year
Next
year will see the celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Caversham propose to hold a festival event on 14 September in Westfield
Park. It has been suggested that Emmer Green hold a celebration on
the Recreation Ground in the summer and the idea of a village picnic
has been proposed. The committee asks members to let the committee
have feedback on this idea and alternative or additional suggestions
would be very welcome.
Planning
proposals
The
Association continues to monitor and make representation on planning
proposals that are seen to have a detrimental impact on the area. However,
it cannot be over emphasised that the more residents, local to a proposed
development, that object in writing the more notice the Council’s
planning department takes of residents’ concerns.
Telecommunication
Masts and Antenna
The
proposed 10 metre mast and two equipment housings for BT Cellnet at
the junction of Buckingham Drive and Peppard Road were opposed by petitions
from local householders. The developer took note of the concerns raised
and in October arranged for their representative, Angela Johnson, to
discuss the issues. The Association, Cllr Chris Brown and residents
adjacent to the proposed site accepted the opportunity to present their
misgivings. Ms Johnson took note of the suggestion of discussing shared
use with other cell phone providers who either already had nearby masts
or also had pending development proposals. She mentioned that BT Cellnet
was also in discussions with RBC about incorporating the proposed antenna
in a 2m extension to a nearby 8m street lamp. This would certainly
make it less obtrusive although the two control boxes against the adjacent
wall would still have to be accommodated. It was intended that these
would be screened with hedging/fencing to make the installation less
of an eyesore. Another mast in nearby Chiltern Road has already been
given the go ahead.
The
Association was provided with detailed plans regarding the 15 metre
mast and equipment cabinets at 9 Kidmore End Road (The White Horse
pub) for TELECOM SECURICOR. As previously reported RBC planning authority
confirmed permission for this development in May. Surprisingly, apart
from the Association’s objection only two other local residents
are known to have made written objections.
An
application has also been notified to the Association for three more
antennas and four microwave dishes on the already festooned Water Tower.
If members wish to make any comments to RBC planning authority on this
proposal the ref. no. is 01/01358/TELE/AC.
Land
to rear of 35-49 Grove Road - Following the refusal of the
original proposal for 8 detached houses plus an access road by the
demolition of 39 Grove Road by Infill Land Consultants, the developer
simply submitted a new, modified proposal for 6 detached houses.
The Council’s Planning Applications Committee considered the
new proposal on 7 November and permitted the development, subject
to a legal agreement. The latter simply requests that the developer
makes a contribution to any resultant educational impact and to the
extension of the 20 mph area to cover the new entrance/exit off Grove
Road.
Land
to rear of 46-52 Kidmore End Road - Notification was received
to build two large detached houses on this site and the Association
did not object to the development of the site but did object to the
proposed size of the two houses. These were felt to be out of keeping
with the surrounding cottages and houses and suggested that the developer
consider two, three or even four smaller properties in keeping with
the surrounding dwellings. The area of Emmer Green, in common with
most places within Reading, desperately needs more affordable housing
and not more hugely expensive houses. The application has in fact
been refused in its original form.
Land
adjacent to 164 Kidmore End Road - A proposal has just been
notified to the Association that a developer has submitted a proposal
to build three 5-bedroomed detached houses on land between 164 Kidmore
End Road and the entrance to Chambers Copse (RBC ref. no. 01/01461/FUL/AC).
Outstanding
Proposals
The
outcome on the plan to build 7 x 3 bed houses on land to rear of 19-29
Grove Road with access from Unity Court is currently in abeyance as
the Council’s Planning Department has requested additional information
from the developer.
The
Planning Department refused permission on the proposal to build on
land to the rear of 64-76 Kidmore End Road following objections from
the Association and a petition signed by nearly 30 local residents.
However, the developer has simply submitted a new proposal (RBC ref.
no. 01/01312/OUT/PB.
Community
Safety Audit
Under the requirements of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, the local Safer
Forum is consulting on its new Community Safety Strategy 2002-05. The proposed
priorities from the analysis of the last three years data on drug related crime
and disorder, information from the Emergency Services and the Safer Community
Forums have been identified as follows.
· High
volume crime such as domestic burglary, violent crime including street
robbery and car crime
· Anti-social
behaviour such as vandalism, graffiti, abandoned cars, neighbourhood
nuisance including noise, harassment and threatening behaviour, road
safety issues and fire safety issues
· Hidden
crime, which includes domestic violence, racial and homophobic crime
· Drugs
and alcohol related crime
· Youth
issues - truancy, health and safety education, bullying issues and
alternative activities.
The
areas of concern across the town are the town centre, South Reading
and parts of East Reading and these are where the focus of strategies
will be directed. Emmer Green and Caversham are relatively quiet areas
but views and suggestions are welcome from all parts of the town. Any
member wishing to be kept informed of this activity can contact the
Safer Forum directly (Eunice Hatt 0118-9390100 ext. 4257) or via the
Association.
North
Reading Youth Project
Senior
youth worker Steve Green has taken up a six month secondment as manager
of the Government’s Sure Start initiative at Whitley Wood and,
on behalf of the Association, the committee would like to thank Steve
for all his dedicated work over recent years at the Youth and Community
Centre.
Association’s
web site
Members
are reminded that the Association’ web site can be found at www.map-reading.co.uk/egra
and contains copies of the current and the previous newsletter, minutes
of the latest committee meeting and of the last annual general meeting
plus a copy of the corresponding chairman’s report. There is
also the facility for publishing member’s photographs and articles
plus pages with general historical information about Emmer Green, links
to other web sites of interest and a current issues page.
The
latter details concerns from the Association to Reading Borough Council’s
planning department about current planning applications and may be
of use to residents affected by a planning proposal when submitting
their own objections. As previously mentioned the importance that the
local planning authority gives to residents’ concerns is in direct
proportion to the number of letters of objection they receive.
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