Golf Club homes plan moves to next stage as Vistry take site on

By JAMES ALDRIDGE Local democracy reporter

PLANS for hundreds of homes to be built at Reading Golf Club are moving ahead more than a year after the development was first approved. There were 4,000 objections in March last year, but the 223-home development was approved as an outline application.

Now further details have been made by Vistry, which bought the plan from applicants Fairfax.

At a recent meeting of Reading Borough Council’s planning committee, the scheme’s Construction Method Statement was discussed. This lays out how construction will take place, including the demolition of existing buildings and construction traffic management.

Concerns were raised over traffic delays near the entrance to the site at the junction of Kidmore End Road and Chalgrove Way.

Helen Lambert, the chairman of the Caversham and District Residents Association, said the traffic would be “a toxic mix” due to the narrowness of the road, its presence on bus routes and as a way to nearby schools.

She said it is “critical” strong measures are put in place so that traffic issues are not exacerbated.

Cllr Simon Robinson (Conservative, Emmer Green) called for a decision to be delayed, questioning whether Vistry’s traffic management plan would work in practice.

Representatives of Vistry ensured the committee construction deliveries would take place outside school dropoff times and a manager will be on site to address any issues.

The construction method statement was approved, with the details of the development also considered during the meeting. The construction methods were considered first, then details of design, and energy supply.

There was also frustration over the reversal of a promise for all the homes to be heated through air source heat pumps.

Although air source heat pumps were specified when the plan was approved on outline, Vistry reduced that to 81 homes on the advice of energy provider SSEN, with the rest heated through gas boilers.

Cllr Josh Williams (Green, Park) said: “The missing air source heat pumps is a failure of the original developer to check what was possible on the site. That developer and that application made promises they simply couldn’t keep.”

He argued the outline plan was unviable, saying: “Perhaps I was right to vote against it after all?”

Cllr Williams also lamented that the committee’s ‘hands are tied’ due to the approval of the outline plan, and raised fears that gas boilers in the new homes “could be burning for decades”.

A condition was added that the capacity for installing air source heat pumps be regularly reviewed. Another change included the housing mix, with Vistry changing the plan to provide more three-bedroom and less two-bedroom homes.

Meanwhile, the proposed appearance of the development was praised.

Cllr Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham) said: “I was absolutely delighted to see the layout, the plan, the appearance. I think this is a high quality development, a like the character areas, I like the different style of brick and colours. It creates a unity but yet distinct areas.”

All the detailed plans were approved by the planning committee on March 29, with Green Cllr Williams voting against details relating to the energy policy.

The approved applications can be viewed by typing the references into the council’s planning portal:

230024 – Construction Method Statement

221312 – changes to housing mix, energy policy and more 220930 – appearance

Reunion planned for Catholic pupils

A REUNION is planned for people who attended Catholic schools in Reading, including Blessed Hugh Faringdon, English Martyrs, and St Joseph’s College.

It will take place at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Washington Road, Caversham from 6.30pm to midnight on Saturday, June 10.

The invite is open to attendees of these schools: Blessed Hugh Faringdon, Fawley Road, Southcote English Martyrs’ Primary School, Dee Road, Tilehurst St Anne’s Catholic Primary School St Joseph’s College (formerly St Joseph’s Convent School), Upper Redlands Road, Reading Presentation College (renamed The Elvian School, now closed), Southcote Lane, Southcote St James Catholic Primary School (now closed)

The event is being organised by Gabriele Scicluna, 72 and from Caversham, who himself attended St Anne’s and Blessed Hugh Faringdon.

Mr Scicluna said: “There’s interest already, it’s going to be a unique reunion. Some will be travelling a far distance, two people are coming from Australia and one will be coming from Canada.

“We’re looking for anyone who would have went to these schools from 1939 anywhere up to the closing of 1975.

“If people want to come from after those years, they are welcome, but that’s our target.

“We are not going to turn people away, but the more people from before 1975 the better.”

A buffet will be provided, with the event being ticketed so the organisers know in advance how many will attend.

Mr Scicluna said: “The buffet will cost a pretty penny so we are charging, we can’t just have people turning up in case they have allergies.

“We hope to make it a jolly affair.”

Mr Scicluna said: “It’s not just one school this time because numbers are falling, our numbers are diminishing because of the ages I want to attract, so I wanted to attract former pupils from other schools to this reunion.” n Tickets cost £15, with any donations over that going to St Anne’s school. To book, call Mr Scicluna on: 0118 947 3560, or email gabrielescicluna@hotmail. co.uk. Alternatively, call fellow organiser Ron Tyler on 07845 162249.

Council apologises for missed food waste collections

READING Borough Council has apologised to residents for missed food waste collections following the Easter holidays. Some people said their bins have not been emptied, and this is due to sickness among the refuse collection team, and some iossues with the collection vehicles.

A statement on Reading Borough Council’s Facebook page noted: “We’re sorry if your food waste has not been collected recently – high levels of sickness amongst the crews and issues with two vehicles have combined to put us behind schedule.

“We are bringing in extra staff this week and putting on additional crews to help us catch up, so if your food waste hasn’t been picked up please leave it out and we’ll get to you as soon as we can to put this right.”

Reacting to the post, a Reading resident posted: “We are also sorry your council tax was collected late, high levels of sickness at home led us to being behind schedule. Doesn’t work that way does it!!”

In Reading, food waste is collected from the kerb on a weekly basis, either from a small black external bin or a larger black bin with a blue lid.

Food waste is initially stored in a small grey indoors caddy with council provided green bin liners, but any bag can be used as long as they are not black.