ROUND UP JUNE 2026

We have delayed publishing this month, as we wanted to include the result of the Kidmore End Road appeal and the withdrawal of the no. 22 bus service, which we know will affect many residents.

LAND WEST OF KIDMORE END ROAD APPEAL

The appeal for the 70 homes on SODC land at Kidmore End Road concluded last month and the Inspector has dismissed the appeals against both South Oxfordshire District Council and Reading Borough Council.

This is a major decision for our community and continues to protect the rural landscape north of Emmer Green. After months of work by CADRA, its supporters, Kidmore End Parish Council (KEPC) and their supporters, the Inspector found that the development would cause significant harm to the Locally Valued Landscape, erode the rural character of Kidmore End Parish, and undermine the clear settlement boundary between Reading and South Oxfordshire.

The Inspector also confirmed that the scheme was not an appropriate location for new housing, even with South Oxfordshire's current housing land shortfall. The full appeal decision shows the Inspector took into account the two Rule 6 Parties' comments (CADRA and KEPC). We would like to thank KEPC for its work and dedication throughout the Inquiry.

Thank you to everyone who made their voices heard by submitting comments, writing to CADRA and to those who came to the appeal. Rarely does CADRA receive such a vast number of comments on a single issue, and we reflected that and those comments to the Inspector.

While it is good news that the appeals have been dismissed, the developer has filed a challenge in the High Court. The Court does not overturn planning decisions but can refer them back to the Planning Inspectorate for re-examination. We understand the anxiety this is likely to cause residents. CADRA will follow the challenge and report back to its members.

READING BUSES NO. 22 WITHDRAWAL

Thank you to all the residents who have written to us about the cancellation of the 22 bus route. We met with Reading Buses last week to get a better understanding of the situation. We understand the economic pressures on Reading Buses and how regulation governs their relationship with the Council.

However, it is clear to us from the usage data, the letters that CADRA has received from residents, and the information in the petition presented to the Council that the 22 Bus Route is ‘socially necessary’. At 50%, concessionary users are significantly higher than elsewhere in Reading.

We have written to the three Caversham Heights Councillors and to Councillor Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport and Vice Chair of the Council’s Cleaner Air & Safer Transport Forum.

CADRA has asked them to: 1) determine that the route is indeed ‘socially necessary’ and 2) see if money from the Bus Improvement Service Plan (BISP), provided by Central Government, would be available to support the 22.

We understand it may be possible to reallocate money from currently subsidised Reading routes which are becoming profitable. Reallocation should have limited impact on them because of the way the subsidy is calculated. If this were feasible then central government would effectively be subsidising the 22 route until it could move back to profitability.

Summary of feedback received (based on correspondence to date):
Respondents have consistently expressed deep concern about the proposed changes and their potential impact. Many highlight that the removal of the direct Reading-bound bus service for Caversham Heights would leave students, commuters, older residents, individuals with limited mobility, and non-drivers without a viable, affordable, or reliable means of accessing workplaces, educational settings, shops, and healthcare services.

Residents also told us how unsuitable the alternative X40 service is, because of the distance to walk to stops, serious incompatibility of ticketing with Reading Buses for onward travel, and reliability issues. They argue that the decision contradicts environmental goals, risks increased car use and reflects poor strategic planning. Several propose alternatives such as avoiding timetable duplication with the X40 and running a peak-only service rather than full withdrawal.

CADRA will continue to press for a fair, workable solution and ensure the community’s voice is firmly heard.

Breaking news: Matt Rodda MP is holding a public meeting on Friday 26 June 7.30pm in the Main School Hall at Highdown Secondary School concerning the no. 22. Please send your questions in advance to:

mattroddampcasework@parliament.co.uk.

EVENTS

Caversham Bridge Booklet & Centenary Celebration

The launch of CADRA’s new booklet marking 100 years since the opening of the ‘new’ Caversham Bridge by the Prince of Wales was a great success. The initial print run sold out at our AGM, and many people took the opportunity to buy the 2023 companion booklet for Reading Bridge. Copies of both are now available in Fourbears and we will have them at CADRA events including the Caversham Summer Fair on 4 July in Caversham Court Gardens. Look out too for copies soon to be available in the Reading Museum shop and for the guest blog written by Helen Lambert, CADRA President, which will soon be available on the Reading Museum website. The centenary date is Thursday 25 June, and there will be a short celebration though arrangements for this may change in view of the extreme weather conditions. 

Caversham Summer Fair in aid of “Raising the Roof” for St Peter’s Church

CADRA will be at the fair in Caversham Court Gardens on 4 July 10.30am to 3.30pm. Come down and say hello and join in our competitions. There will also be artisan craft stalls, kids' activities, cafe, fun dog show, and musical performances. Entry is free (dog show registration is £5). Raising the Roof at St Peter’s Appeal

OTHER PLANNING

Hemdean House School – PL/26/0138

We are very pleased, as will be many residents, that the proposal to demolish several buildings and redevelop the former school site with 51 retirement apartments, alongside conversions of the School House and gate lodge, was refused by the Planning Applications Committee on 3 June. The reasons were extensive: excessive scale, poor design quality, loss of community use, harm to heritage assets and trees, poor living conditions, impacts on neighbours, and unsafe access and parking arrangements. Taken together, these harms outweighed the scheme’s benefits. We hope that a more sympathetic and smaller scale development will be proposed which includes some level of community use and that the nursery school can stay open. This has been of great concern to many parents and grandparents.

BT Street Hub, outside 29 Church Street – PL/25/1352

The appeals concerning the replacement of the existing payphone with a BT Street Hub and illuminated LED screen have been allowed. The Inspector concluded that the installation would not harm the character of the area, impede pedestrian movement, compromise highway or public safety, or adversely affect nearby residents’ living conditions. CADRA had commented on the original applications.

8 Church Street – Essential Roof Repairs - PL/26/0492

Listed Building Consent has been submitted for roof maintenance at Gardiners, part of the important group of historic buildings marking the gateway into Caversham within the St Peter’s Conservation Area. CADRA welcomes these essential works and wants to ensure the repairs are carried out by suitably experienced heritage contractors.

NORTH READING SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM

The NRSNF visited Caversham Heights ward at St Andrew’s Church. The meeting was very well attended and included issues including the crossing at The Last Crumb, Old Barclays Bank (NRSNF has raised this with Cleaner Air Safer Transport Forum), dog fouling (raised to Safer Reading Forum), water safety, modified e-bikes on pavements, and speeding in North Reading including Henley Road and Upper Woodcote Road (being dealt with by police). The next meeting will be in Emmer Green ward and is likely to be on 1 October.

The NRSNF looks forward to working with the new Chair of the Safer Reading Forum, Finn McGoldrick.

AGM

We were delighted to see so many people at our AGM on 19 May. Around a hundred people were present, continuing the theme of centenaries. Many thanks to Caversham Baptist Church for hosting the meeting and displaying the films.

We were glad of the opportunity to update members on CADRA’s work over the past year. This included involvement in helping to launch the new charity Olly’s Work, as it seeks to promote hope and happiness and prevent hate and harm in our community. We also reported on CADRA’s substantial amount of work as a ‘Rule 6 party’ to the appeal for 70 houses in South Oxfordshire on Reading Golf Club land. CADRA was pleased to welcome to the AGM members of Kidmore End Parish Council, the other 'Rule 6 party.’

Caversham 1926 – Our Bridge, Our River and the Royal Show

Thank you to our three speakers exploring Caversham in 1926. Helen Lambert explained how the booklet on Caversham Bridge developed, exploring archives and image collections. Jane Parker from Reading University, President of the Reading Amateur Regatta 1842 and former rower, explained the development of rowing around the bridge - particularly for women – as Reading University gained its charter in 1926. This was followed by Avis Furness, u3a Reading, who gave a fascinating account of the Royal Show held in July 1926 in Caversham Park. A final question and answer session included some wonderful family memories from the events in 1926.

AND….as the heatwave continues, we hope everyone is staying cool, checking in on neighbours, and taking care when out and about. CADRA will keep monitoring local issues closely and will continue to update residents over the summer – Join Us