You will find lots of information about Emmer Green on this website. For anyone who isn't already a member, do join. It only costs £1 a year. Details and a form are available by clicking here.

For further information about Reading visit www.reading.gov.uk. For general enquiries to Reading Borough Council Tel: (0118) 9390900.
Emmer Green borders South Oxfordshire www.southoxon.gov.uk
Oxfrdshire County Council may also have some relevant information on www.Oxfordshire.gov.uk

The following information we hope will be a useful reminder to established residents, and an introduction to what’s here for newcomers. The telephone dialling code for Reading is 0118.

Reading Passport
Local residents can get discounts on events, amenities and courses in the borough, on the production of their card, which also serves as a library ticket.
Tel: (0118) 9390386

Meeting places and groups
North Reading Youth and Community Centre
is off St Barnabas Road, where amongst other things there is an active programme for local teenagers. It is also used as the local polling station.
Tel: (0118) 9015612
email

St Barnabas Church Hall
For bookings, Tel: (0118) 9476889 and two Scout Halls (off Kiln Road and top of Grove Hill).

The new hall is now open at Highdown School. It is hoped it will be shared by the community.

Groups meeting in the area include Women’s Institute, Townswomen’s Guild*, 2nd Emmer Green Guides, 1st and 2nd Emmer Green Brownies, 89th Reading Scouts, 3rd Reading Scouts and Friends of Clayfield Copse (a local conservation group). Regular events in Emmer Green include the Highdown Show and a variety of other fêtes and fairs organised by the schools, churches and other groups. In one corner of the Recreation Ground (off Kidmore End Road) is a children’s play area, while Clayfield Copse, a local nature reserve area, offers lovely walks in the woods, plus a skateboard facility and meet up area for young people.

Shopping Amenities
There is a comprehensive range of shops, including a Budgens supermarket, which is open 8.00am – 8.00pm six days a week plus Sunday from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Other shops include a chemist, butcher, hardware shop, art gallery, a newsagents (which offers newspaper deliveries), an off-licence, hairdressers, florist, video rentals shop and betting shop. A sub Post Office has recently opened in part of the florist shop. A mobile library run by Tilehurst Library comes to the shopping precinct on alternate Fridays;Tel: (0118) 9015118. The garage on the north section of Peppard Road undertakes repairs and a petrol station is on Buckingham Drive. There is a community notice board at the shopping precinct for local people to advertise forthcoming events.

Public Houses & Restaurants
Two of the three public houses, the Black Horse and the White Horse (which serves food), are in the heart of the village, with the third, the Gardeners’ Arms, in Surley Row. There are two Indian restaurants, which also provide ‘take-away’ meals, plus a fish & chip shop and a Pizza takeaway.

Caversham Library
Church Street, Caversham Tel: (0118) 9015103
web: click here

Reading Library maintains a Community Information Database* for Caversham as a whole (click here).
Some entries in it may need updating, so please use as a guide and report any changes to the library.

Sports facilities
The Highdown Sports Centre, Surley Row, run by Reading Leisure Services, offers swimming, badminton, squash, tennis etc. Tel: (0118) 9015095. Click here for website.

Reading Golf Club is accessed off Kidmore End Road Tel: (0118) 9472909. Click here for website.

Caversham Park Tennis Club* is adjacent to Clayfield Copse, off Caversham Park Road.

The local football team has been affiliated to the Black Horse pub and plays at the recreation ground opposite.

Abbey Rugby Football Club*, Peppard Road, just beyond Emmer Green.

Gardening
Emmer Green has an active allotment site in Grove Road. There is a waiting list. Please approach Reading Borough Council and ask for your name to be added (click here for the website).

Anyone with gardening interests can join Caversham Horticultural Society*. The 2007 Membership Secretary is Elaine Rae
Tel: (0118) 9470510, or click here to email.

Conservation and Wildlife
Friends of Clayfield Copse*
The Friends of Clayfield Copse hold monthly work parties in Clayfield Copse or adjoining Blackhouse Wood, these are to carry out management work in the woods to maintain access and improve diversity. The work parties are held on the first Sunday of each month at 10am, meet in the car park, they are open to all.
Contact Anne Latto, tel: (0118) 9484454 or click here to email.

CROW* (Conserve Reading on Wednesdays), affiliated to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, the Berkshire Conservation Volunteers and the Sonning Common based Green Gym also work in Clayfield Copse.

Caversham Globe
The group meets every first Thursday of the month. The group is represented at TREGA (The Reading Globe Alliance) and ECONET - an umbrella organisation for organisations involved in conservation work in the Reading area.
email

Other conservation activities may be found through organisations like the Chiltern Society and the Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT).

Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre, Surley Row
Head: Tim Royle; Tel: (0118) 9545700
email
web www.highdown.reading.sch.uk

Emmer Green Primary School, Grove Road,
Head: Mrs Andrea Grashoff; Tel: (0118) 9015464
email
web www.emmergreen.reading.sch.uk

The Hill Primary School, Peppard Road
Head: Wil Lambert; Tel: (0118) 9015560
email
web www.hill.reading.sch.uk

Caversham Park Primary and St Martin's School are both within walking distance of Emmer Green.

Reading Adult & Community College offers evening classes at Highdown School.

Pre-school playgroups are held at the Community Centre.

Doctors
Emmer Green Surgery, 4 St Barnabas Road, which includes a team of doctors and nursing staff.
Tel:-
Enquiries: (0118) 9486900
Appointments: (0118) 9481684
Emergency: (0118) 9486921 (Only if the doctor is required immediately)
web: www.emmergreensurgery.co.uk

RedDoc
This is your local general practitioner's out of hours co-operative.
web: www.reddoc.co.uk
By appointment only. Access contact information via your usual GP surgery.

NHS Direct
web: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/

Royal Berkshire Hospital
London Road/ Craven Road Tel: (0118) 3225111
web: http://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/rbh

AGE CONCERN BERKSHIRE

Working to promote the welfare of older people often in partnership with others. Includes practical help and advice including the 'Home Handyman Scheme'
Tel: (0118) 9594242
email: acb@acberk.org
web: www.ageconcernberkshire.org.uk

Reading 50++ initiatives
Regular meetings take place at St Barnabas Hall Emmer Green.
1.Armed Forces welfare benefits and advice: Tel: Legionline on 08457 725 725
2.Facilities and courses at Highdown School: Mrs Rackley Tel: (0118) 901 5809
Email: har@highddown.reading.sch.uk


FREE SMOKE ALARMS
To arrange a free home safety check and get free alarms fitted
Tel: 0800 587 6679
email
web: www.rbfrs.co.uk

St Barnabas Parish Church, C of E, Grove Road.
Reverend Derek Chandler, 20 St Barnabas Road
Tel: (0118) 9478239
email
web www.saintbarnabas.org.uk

Caversham Hill Chapel, 119 Peppard Road,
Colin Gault, Tel: (0118) 9484151
email
web http://website.lineone.net/~tts-mediapro/CavHillChap.html

Caversham Evangelical Church, Emmer Green Community Centre, RG4 8LN.
Pastor: Bruce Jenkins, Tel: (0118) 9482318
email
web http://www.cec.uk.net/

All Saints, C of E, Dunsden Green, South Oxfordshire.
Christine Bland, Church Warden, Tel: (0118) 9475826
email

Caversham Bridge Newspaper
This will give details of all churches within the Emmer Green/ Caversham area.
Caversham Christian News Ltd, Church Street, Caversham, Reading RG4 8AX
Tel: (0118) 9471703
email
Contact Mark Staunton, Tel: (0118) 9472389 if you would like to get onto the distribution list of this local newspaper.

Good Neighbours Scheme
Tel: (0118) 9483466

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

Reading Chronicle
web: http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/chronicle

Evening Post
web: www.getreading.co.uk

Henley Standard
web: www.henleystandard.co.uk

ADVERTS
EGRA is a non commercial organisation. Members only have access to the Tradesman's List. The nominations must come from a member who has used, and is pleased with, their service. The entries are monitiored and it is thoroughly checked every two years (Next due 2008)

For individuals or small businesses wishing to advertise:
The Caversham Bridge
Tel: (0118) 3773020
email

And two free booklets circulated in the RG4 area and beyond:
Round and About
Tel: 01491 837621
web: www.roundandabout.co.uk
Connecting Caversham
Tel: (0118) 9462121
email

Martins newsagent in the Emmer Green Precinct have a board in the window for placing ads.

Community Notice Board. Emmer Green Precinct. For local community groups to promote forthcoming events.

Public Transport
For comprehensive countrywide journey planning visit www.traveline.org.uk
Tel: 0871 200 22 33

Reading Buses
Tel: (0118) 9594000, or for general and timetable information www.reading-buses.co.uk
Numbers 23 and 24 run through Emmer Green to Reading via Caversham in alternate directions and roughly average six buses per hour. The Peppard Road is also served by the 137 and 138 (Sonning Common to Reading). For Reading FC home matches, Reading Buses put on a special bus that goes from the village pond to the Madejski Stadium and returns supporters after the game.
Night track bus N23/N24 St Mary's Butts - Station - Caversham Park - Emmer Green - Caversham Centre roughly between midnight and 2.00am.

Concessionery Pensioners' Bus Pass
Age 60 - 65 travel on Reading Buses is free at any time except before 9.00 am Monday - Friday
Aged 65+ travel on Reading Buses is free at any time
To apply for a pass you need to go in person to the Civic Centre, with evidence of your address (eg utility bill or bank statement) and proof of age (birth certificate, passport) plus a small colour photo of yourself. The form you fill in will take a couple of weeks to process, so you can head off to set things up when you are 59 years and 50 weeks of age. Passes must always be shown on the bus.
Tel: (0118) 9305522

With this Pass you can travel free on local bus services throughout England from 9.30am to 10.59pm Mondays to Fridays, and all day Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. In addition, if your bus journey is within the Wokingham Borough, Bracknell Forest Borough, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, West Berkshire or Reading Borough Council areas you can also travel free of charge between the hours of 9.00am and 9.30am, Mondays to Fridays.

Rail Travel
Reading Station offers a wide range of services. You check departure times live online.

There are regular buses to and from the station, 30 minutes free car parking for drop offs, and a multi-storey car park for those paying. A site which scours the timetables and checks out cheap fare availability is www.thetrainline.com or check out www.nationalrail.co.uk.

READING BOROUGH COUNCIL
www.reading.gov.uk

Telephone Helplines

Reading Borough Council
(Please refer to telephone directory for comprehensive list):
Graffiti Clean-up: Tel: (0118) 9390042
Noise Pollution: Environmental Health Section on FREEPHONE (0800 626540).
Rats and Vermin: Pest Control Service FREEPHONE (0800 834035)
Abandoned Vehicles: Tel: (0118) 9390243
Blocked Drains: Tel: (0118) 9390669, emergencies Mon - Fri 4pm -8am 0785 0728759

Thames Water
Leaks
Tel: 0845 9200 800
web: www.thameswater.co.uk/reportaleak

REFUSE / RECYCLING
Reading Borough Council provides free ‘wheelie bins’. Collection day varies throughout Emmer Green, depending upon where you live.

Similar bins or boxes are available for the recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic (bottles only) and tins - no glass.

Green bins can be purchased from the Council for garden waste.

Currently rubbish and recycling bins are emptied on alternate weeks.
Missed bins Tel: 0800 834035

Recycling sites for the same material, plus glass, in Surley Row, next to the rear entrance of Highdown School and another in Caversham Park Village, near the Milestone Centre.
At the Civic Centre there is a green cylindrical collection receptacle for household batteries (eg. AAA, P9 and button cells).

For further suggestions for recycling in Emmer Green, click here.

The Thames Valley Police number is 0845 8505505.

A drop-in Police Surgery is now in operation at Church House, Caversham. On the first Monday of every month between 5pm and 8pm there will be someone there to answer any enquires or complaints you may have.

Upper Caversham Team
Inspector Graham Dix
Sgt Nigel Scarratt
PC John Finnerty- Emmer Green & Caversham Park Village
PCSO John Hendy
PCSO Jeni Williams

In an emergency or if a crime is being committed call 999

For non-emergencies and to contact individual officers call 0845 8 505 5050
email

The Voicemail number for the Church Road office (to pass on information, not to report crimes), Tel: 0118 9474269

Anti-social behaviour action line, Tel: 0845 605 2222

Neighbourhood Watch Police Co-ordinator, Tel: (0118) 9536250

Victim Support, Tel: (0118) 9586166

Racial Harrassment Hotline, Tel: 0800 174 805

From April 6th 2008 Councils have been given responsibility for dealing with stray dogs and they (the dogs!) are no longer dealt with by Police. The contact number in Reading is 9390251 during office hours. 01344 786584 (Outside office hours). This is the Dog Warden, to whom complaints re. dog fouling and excessive noise can also be made.

Emmer Green mainly falls under Peppard Ward. Former monthly Councillor Surgeries 10.30am – 12 noon, in a Readibus at the shopping precinct car park, have now been split in two, along party lines. The Lib-Dem one remains the second Saturday of the month, whilst the Tories have opted for the third, with a few exceptions. Do check the community noticeboard or contact your preferred Councillor if you are unsure.

Amjad (Jamie) Chowdhary - contact information awaited

Mark Ralph (Education & Children / Housing & Health / Policing /Pensioners)
Tel: (0118) 9481615
email

Richard Willis (Transport / Environment)
Tel: 07974 398811
email

Small areas of Emmer Green fall into Thames ward, whose councillors are:

Jeanette Skeats (Culture / Sport / Licensing)
Tel: (0118) 9476439
email

David Stevens (Traffic / Community Groups)
Tel: (0118) 9574590
email

Isobel Ballsdon (Planning / Environment)
Tel: 07717 292003
email

Member of Parliament for Reading East:
Mr Rob Wilson MP
Tel: (0118) 3759785
email
Postal Address: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

 

Information is believed correct at the time of publication.
Please feel free to report any errors, anything out of date, or omissions.