CADRA DECEMBER ROUND UP
CADRA’s festive Round Up is a bumper one with all the usual topics and an exciting new contribution on youth matters from the Young Voices group. We lead with the important planning news from South Oxfordshire. You’ll hear about our thoughts on public safety and streets, and we finish with some festive news.
ROUND UP PLANNING
Land West of Kidmore End Road, Emmer Green
On 3rd December, the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) Planning Applications Committee considered the controversial application (P25/S1431/O) to build 70 homes on the former Reading Golf Club, adjacent to, and accessed through, the current development within the Reading Borough Council (RBC) area. The officer recommendation prior to the meeting was to approve the application.
Kidmore End Parish Council (KEPC) made an excellent speech stressing the importance of “plan led development“. CADRA has been working closely with Kidmore End Parish Council. As well as our formal objection to SODC, we emailed the SODC Planning Committee members ahead of the meeting to reiterate additional concerns and were pleased to hear that this was referenced several times during the debate. The committee voted 5:4 to refuse the application – The Decision Notice
CADRA fully understands the level of residents’ concern about this application and would like to thank KEPC for the huge amount of work that went into its Neighbourhood Plan, and to SODC councillors for recognising the Neighbourhood Plan’s importance. We expect the developers to appeal.
An associated RBC application (PL/25/0691) relates to access from the SODC proposed site into the current development. CADRA has asked RBC ward councillors to call in this application so that it can be decided by RBC’s Planning Committee. This application should clearly be refused (if it is not withdrawn) given that the SODC application has been refused.
South Oxfordshire Neighbourhood Plans
The Kidmore End Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan was very important in SODC’s decision making. We think that residents might be interested in Eye and Dunsden Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan that is currently being discussed. The parish land, on Reading’s eastern side, is where Gladman developers have issued their vision for 1200 homes.
Reading Local Plan Partial Update Examination
Proposed updates to the Reading Local Plan are currently being examined by the Government Inspector. Stage 1 of the examination was completed in November. Stage 2 will continue in February 2026 and CADRA has registered to comment on the section covering Caversham and Emmer Green, including the sites identified for development - Local plan process explanation.
Other Applications
In Caversham centre there are two new applications: at 3 Prospect Street (PL/25/1211), a change of use to a tanning and beauty salon; and in St Martins Precinct (PL/25/1608), minor amendments concerning materials, architectural detail and tree relocation, relating to the approved plan for a new block (PL/14/0997) on the car park between the precinct and the telephone exchange.
There are also updates on applications in the same area. In Church Street both BT Street Hubs and their illuminated advertising were refused (PL/25/1352), citing visual clutter, obstruction of pedestrians and wheelchair users, and the noise and light pollution impacts. Similar BT Hubs across the town have also been refused. At the listed 2-4 Church Street (PL/25/1388), where permission was granted in May, work has started before the required materials condition was discharged, prompting CADRA to notify the planning officer, ward councillors and the Conservation Areas Advisory Committee.
The appeal against the refused extension for 1 Gravel Hill Cottages (PL/25/0574) was dismissed citing the impact on the property's character and its Chilterns National Landscape setting. Across the river at Napier Court (PL/24/0846) a revised scheme has reduced the floors to 11 and apartments to 570. The previous scheme raised objections and concerns from RBC Natural Environment for the tree loss and from RBC Transport because of inadequate pedestrian and cyclist provision. Close by on the riverside, the plans for 2 Norman Place (PL/24/0958) have also been revised, reducing the build-to-rent apartments from 254 to 236 with some changes to the layout, materials, and river frontages.
YOUTH MATTERS
We are delighted that one of Reading’s Young Voices, who attended our recent open meeting, has become a writer for this new section in CADRA’s Round Up. Their first article is about their annual summit.
The second annual safety summit run by Young Voices took place on the 20th Nov. Young Voices is a group of young people who are passionate about creating a safer and more inclusive environment for the young people of Reading. They have meetings on Wednesdays in a Reading safe space to discuss and share issues that matter to them.
The theme of this year’s annual safety summit “See Me as Me” encouraged adults and professionals to view young people as individuals rather than as a collective group. The summit allows Young Voices to capture the thoughts and opinions of the young people attending, and gives an opportunity for the professionals to use those thoughts and opinions to influence their strategies.
During the day, the attendees were split into themed workshops that raised awareness to different issues in unique, informative and engaging ways. These included 'Violence Against Women and Girls', 'Hate Crime and Bullying', Reporting (of crime/issues), and Exploitation.
The online event had a large outreach, attended by 160 professionals and young people from across Berkshire West. Young Voices welcomed attendees, introduced speakers, engaged with media, and facilitated operations throughout the day. A summary of the conclusions to the key questions “What do adults need to know” and “What do adults need to ask” is available here: Summit Summary
CADRA OPEN MEETING REVIEW - Promoting Hope + Happiness / Preventing Hate + Harm
Thank you to residents who attended our open meeting on November 19th. They heard from Amanda Stephens about her new charity The Olly Stephens Trust, as well as from RBC officers, Police Officers, Community Volunteers, Young Voices from No 5 and Matt Rodda MP. The evening had wide media coverage and raised £400 for the charity.
A big thank you also to the sponsors of our prize give aways: Reading Rep Theatre - RABBLE Theatre - No 5 Young People - Friends of Caversham Court Gardens.
CADRA now has an Instagram page - @cadrauk - as you’d expect there’s more video than on our Facebook page.
NORTH READING SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUM
The next meeting will be 7pm on 19th January at The Weller Centre and is open to all. Please come along if there are any issues you would like to discuss with the police or council officers.
Residents may have noticed that the Government is abolishing the position of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) for all areas, in a bid to reduce costs. We are not clear what impact this may have on police services. We have always felt there was some confusion and overlap between the role of the PCC and the role of the Crime Safety Partnerships, so we are hoping that there is minimal impact on North Reading.
ROAD SAFETY MEASURES IN NORTH READING
CADRA was very concerned that the recent RBC Traffic Management Sub-Committee meeting agreed to remove many safety measures, across the whole of Reading, from their Principal Measures List. Fifteen of these were in North Reading. As you would expect, we wrote to the Traffic Management Sub-Committee asking that these safety measures be retained and also raised this at RBC’s Cleaner Air and Safer Transport (CAST) Forum.
Residents may not know which measures were removed, which include some they have actively campaigned for - North Reading Removed and Retained Lists
ISSUES RAISED BY MEMBERS
Highdown School Public Gym and Pool Closure
CADRA has been contacted by several residents regarding the closure of the public leisure facilities at Highdown School. We hope to speak to the school in the new year to gain a better understanding of the issue from its perspective.
Eldon Square Conservation Area Appraisal
The Council is consulting on a new appraisal for the Eldon Square Conservation Area. This appraisal, drafted by the Reading Conservation Area Advisory Committee on which CADRA is represented, details the special interest of the area and proposes an extension to its boundaries, as well as an action plan for preserving and enhancing the area. It closes 20th January 2026.
Rotherfield Walking Football
The club are looking for new members. There is no upper or lower age limit, nor any requirement to have played football before. All are welcome, and they play for friendliness rather than competitiveness. Gallowstree Common is their usual ground, but also Highdown School on Monday evenings in the winter, and sometimes the Rivermead Leisure Centre - Rotherfield Walking Football
Small Business Saturday Competition Winners 2025
Winners of Matt Rodda MP’s Reading Central Small Business competition included Walk Works in the ‘Fitness and Well Being’ category. We congratulate them on their two awards in recent months.
CHRISTMAS CORNER
There are lots of wonderful Christmas displays in Caversham Centre, in residents’ gardens along Hemdean Rd and also the colourful lights on Fry’s Island provided by Caversham Boat Services.
Christmas Colouring Competition
CADRA has a children’s Colouring Competition. The picture, drawn by local artist Janina Maher, shows Comet the Reindeer at the gates of Caversham Court Gardens. The prize for best entry is The Reading Detectives Book (or similar) and a water bottle from a local sports team. Please send your entries to info@cadra.org.uk by 5th January 2026.
Carols At Caversham Court Gardens
A reminder of the Friends’ Carol Concert in Caversham Court Gardens on Monday 15th December at 6:15pm for a 7:30pm start.
And finally, to all our readers, warmest wishes this festive season. Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and Season’s Greetings to everyone. To our members, thank you for supporting CADRA throughout 2025.
If you haven’t sent season’s greetings to your friends in North Reading yet, why not forward this email and urge them to Join CADRA.