Wednesday 5th June 2002
Present: Mr
Paul Gallagher, Mr Bob Cruickshank Mrs Margaret Ormonde Mr Bill Harper
Mr David Miles Mr Brian Warren Mrs Anne Ayres Mr Geoff Goldsmith
1.Apologies
Mrs Jill Verran
2.Minutes
of the last meeting (21st February 2002) were approved
3.Matters
arising
Highdown
Recycling Site
Temporary repairs had been carried out to the site and it was understood
that major works to the gas pipeline would be carried out once the school
term ended in the summer. The longer term future of the recycling facility
was not yet clear.
Parking
along Kidmore End Road
Since the survey was undertaken the Councillors had called on households
to discuss the car parking problems. Residents were still being fined for
illegal parking, and this had been a double blow because some who had parked
further away from their homes had found the cars were being vandalised. The
traffic wardens tended to finish work at around 5.30 pm which meant visiting
cars could still cause chaos in the evening, with no consequences. Unfortunately,
the hands of the Council were tied until Central Government revised their
policy on residents’ parking permits. Even this would not solve an
ever growing problem and it was felt some innovative thinking was needed.
Cllr Hendry was to be contacted to see if there was any more news.
Planning
Applications
Planning
consent was finally granted at a Council meeting on Wednesday 29th
May for the first phase to proceed on the land behind 70-76 Kidmore
End Road. Campaigner Jon Barclay of Chalgrove Way and Paul Gallagher
attended the meeting where Cllr Bob Green made an impassioned speech
representing the concerns (traffic, safety, parking etc) of the residents
opposed to the project. Cllr Stainthorpe spoke in favour of the proposal,
branding the opposers as ‘nimby’, and the voting went in
favour. No 76 would be demolished, a wide access road created and the
initial plans were for five houses (up to sixteen eventually). Where
properties were likely to lose parking places outside their homes,
provision may be made at the rear.
46-52
Kidmore End Road
although the initial application had been refused because it was felt two
big detached properties were incongruous with the surrounding area, the subsequent
submission had not changed significantly.
The
opposition to the demolition of a bungalow and construction of a
large dwelling in St Barnabas Road had led to the application being
refused and the developer had withdrawn completely and resold the
property.
Village Sign
The sign had previously been given the go-ahead by the committee and on Saturday
25th May a meeting between Paul Gallagher, Margaret Ormonde, Anne Ayres from
EGRA and Bill Mander, Gordon Bennett and Peter Ambrose from the Berkshire
Woodcarvers was held to discuss how to proceed.
The wood would probably be sourced and prepared by a nephew of Bill Mander.
Another quote had been supplied by Bouchiers, but although this seemed cheaper,
it only covered the bare timber and not the preparation. The decision had
been left in the hands of the carvers.
The
design of the sign was discussed. Because there wasn’t really
one image to represent Emmer Green it was decided to divide the top
panel into four, with an architectural theme on one side and local
interest on the other. This would probably suit the carvers too,
as the sign was being carved by a team of people.
The
topics decided were:
The
name EMMER GREEN would be carved over the top. Although the sign
would not be painted, different shades of stain would be used to
emphasise designs. It was felt the sign would be appreciated most
by people standing beside it, rather than those driving past. The
most popular site with the members was the area of land to the south
of the pond.
The
CADRA sign for Caversham was still going ahead, and we were following
its progress. As it was being funded by the North Reading Area Consultative
Committee, the Council were going to install and maintain the sign.
It was hoped we could follow the same path.
There
were no requirements for health and safety, but planning consent
was underway in the form of an ‘advertising consent application’.
The valuation department of the Council were to confirm who owned
the land
The
Berkshire Woodcarvers, several of whom live in Emmer Green had already
made a unique contribution to the area with the Clayfield Copse waymarkings.
The sign seems a fitting outlet for their skills, a present to the
people of Emmer Green, and a commemoration of the Jubilee year.
Jubilee
Year 2002
The idea of a low key event for the 3rd June was abandoned because of logistical
complications, lack of support and also because the grant to fund it was
refused. However the St Barnabas Garden Party on the 6th July had a Jubilee
theme and EGRA had been invited to take part. Paul Gallagher had been in
touch with the organiser Julie Kent and suggestions for the stall had included
an historical display, quizzes etc. Bob Cruickshank was happy to look after
the quiz with the Village theme and Paul Gallagher would seek help from other
committee members on other quizzes. Any funds raised would be paid directly
to the church for their charitable cause.
Website
The application form to join EGRA had now been revised,
so that it could be printed and posted to the Membership Secretary.
The community site had been established with an interesting
contribution of some aerial photographs. Other local photos
from members are still needed.
4.Treasurer’s
Report
The books were all now sold and the combined balance in the Associations
accounts was just over £5100, including a recent contribution of £71.00
from video royalties.
5.Feedback
from Committees
North
Reading Youth Project
Details were still awaited concerning the consultation exercise
with youngsters on the Clayfield Copse skateboard facility improvements.
Sums of £20,000
have been mentioned.
Safer
Caversham Forum
The current chairman Derek Bartlett had relinquished his post after
valiant service. It was decided that future chairmen/women should
be represented
by local groups in the area, for one year at a time. EGRA was the first to
be offered this post and David Miles had stepped into the role. It was hoped
that the minutes of the first meeting, taken by Secretary Chris Bloomfield,
would be sent before the next meeting scheduled for June11th. Many of the
topics covered were outside Emmer Green, but it was important that we look
at and contribute to issues beyond our own boundaries. Amersham Road was
at the forefront of discussion and a police ‘Electrode’ operation
on horseback had helped calm things down. In fact the area was environmentally
a pleasant place to live, just being spoilt by a few inconsiderate residents.
Leaflets
and brochures had been produced on Reading’s Community Safety
Strategy 2002-2005. The aim is to ensure that communities work closely
with police to reduce and prevent crime. The areas of concern were
high volume crime, anti-social behaviour, hidden crime, drugs and
alcohol abuse, youth issues and crime hot spots. Comments on this
were to be passed to David Miles.
Disappointment
was expressed by the EGRA committee that the Caversham Chat (including
the local crime figures) was no longer distributed as an e-mail attachment.
Copies were available from Caversham Library.
There
had been a spate of crime at Reading Golf Club with cars broken into
and valuables stolen from changing rooms.
North
Reading Area Consultative Committee
Bob
Cruickshank, who had attended a previous meeting, volunteered to attend
future meetings, as the EGRA representative, and it was hoped that
at the next meeting there would be some good news about the financial
award for the village sign.
6.
Draft Summer Newsletter
This
had been circulated to committee members and was given approval. Additional
information about proposed changes to the allotments was to be added.
The plans were to encourage the use of vacant plots and the improve
the general upkeep of the site by dividing existing plots in two. New
wider paths were also to be created to the concern of some allotment
holders who may lose some land.
7.
AGM
This year’s had been a particular success for a number of
reasons. The culmination of events with cheese and wine was something
we hoped to
follow up in future years.
8.
Any Other Business
The
seat which had been donated by EGRA in 1995 was in need of maintenance
to preserve it. David Miles volunteered to undertake this task at
some point during the summer.
There
was to be yet another Chambers Copse enquiry on the 20th August.
Although
the application to build on land behind 19-21 Grove Road was refused
the builder has appealed to the Secretary of State against the decision
and an Inquiry was to be held.
CADRA
are arranging more liaison meetings between local groups and EGRA
were amongst those invited to attend. Ideas to be put forward by
EGRA included:
1.
Recycling from roadside collections
2.
Identifying areas for tree preservation orders
3.
Allotments – the new proposals and the need to maintain the
land
4.
Car parking problems
5.
Telecommunication masts
The
date was still to be announced.
Post
boxes
The Royal Mail had recently been contacted about the lack of posting facilities
in the Hemdean Valley / Tredegar Road area. Also it had been pointed out
this was having a knock-on effect on the box outside St Barnabas Church that
was often overflowing and during the school rush period causing additional
traffic problems because of users parking.
Date
of next meeting
8:00 pm Wednesday 25th September 2002 at 18 St Barnabas Road.
