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Whitley Pump Day, 12 May 2020 is our last day of operation and we will be switching off our virtual printing press today.
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The view from Katesgrove Hill
Category: News (page 1 of 81)
The Kennet at County Lock – 23 December 2019
The statutory deadline for production, audit and sign off of Reading Borough Council (RBC) accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020 has been extended from 31 July to 30 November 2020. This is the result of new Government regulations for local authority accounts and audit during the coronavirus pandemic.
Reading Borough Council (RBC) are consulting on their draft transport strategy that will set Reading’s transport plans until 2036. It includes a local cycling and walking infrastructure plan which could mean more dedicated cycle lanes in south Reading.
Green Park Station
Whitley Pump reader Andrew Coltman sent us some photographs of the site of Green Park railway station on the line between Reading and Basingstoke. It looks like the land has been cleared ready for building to commence.
The Hallowing of the Church at Reading Abbey by Thomas Becket in 1164. Oil on canvas by Stephen Reid – 1920 © Reading Museum (Reading Borough Council)
Henry I founded Reading Abbey in 1121 but it was not consecrated until 19 April 1164 during the reign of his grandson Henry II. The ceremony was carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket and was attended by the King and his noblemen.
Waterloo Meadows Sustrans Path
The path along the north bank of the Kennet through Waterloo Meadows has now been surfaced. This is part of improvements that Sustrans are carrying out to the pedestrian and cycle route.
Rubbish truck
Reading Borough Council (RBC) are starting their bin collections at 6am each day until further notice. Up here on Katesgrove Hill that will start from tomorrow with our grey bin.
Proposed site of archaeological investigation work in the Woodley Arms car park
There were seven new planning and building control applications in south Reading this week. They may be discussed at one of the next Reading Borough Council planning applications committees.
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Plato’s Allegory of the Cave by Jan Saenredam 1604
The legislation that will allow Reading Borough Council (RBC), to hold virtual meetings during the coronavirus epidemic comes in to force today, 4 April. Meetings can now be held by video or telephone conference. The regulations will remain in force until 7 May 2021.
Matt Rodda at the opening of the ‘In Reading Gaol by Reading Town’ exhibition at the Riverside Museum at Blake’s Lock
The Whitley Pump interviewed Matt Rodda in a socially-distanced telephone call on Friday 27 March. Parliament had closed for an early recess the previous Wednesday and we wanted to ask him about the adjustments that he had to make to the normal pattern of an MPs life.
Waterfest 2019
Many spring and summer events are being cancelled or postponed in Reading to reduce the spread of Coronavirus. Reading Borough Council have published a list of some spring and summer events, such as Waterfest in June, which have been affected.
Hansel and Gretel with RBL at South Street
The ghost of Christmas present from RBL’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. Photo: VIVA photography.
The ghost of Christmas future from RBL’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. Photo: VIVA photography.
Jordan Whyte, Mark Middleton and the ghost of Christmas past from RBL’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. Photo: VIVA photography.
Hansel and Gretel with RBL at South Street. Photo courtesy of Pieter Lawman.
Hansel and Gretel with RBL at South Street. Photo courtesy of Pieter Lawman.
RBL’s Henry II at Reading Minster. Photo: Pieter Lawman Photography.
Rabble Theatre, formerly Reading Between the Lines or RBL, have devised an ingenious way of keeping theatre alive during the current coronavirus epidemic. They are offering free online drama and public speaking classes every Wednesday starting on 1 April.
Woodley Arms – February 2019
The Woodley Arms on Waldeck Street closed in 2012 and now looks sad, abandoned and derelict as it awaits demolition. The public house was built as part of the redevelopment of Spring Gardens in the 1970s and was the pub’s third incarnation.
Whitley Pump 1923 – in the background Christchurch Conservation Area
There were 21 new planning and building control applications in south Reading this week. They may be discussed at one of the next Reading Borough Council planning applications committees.
Rubbish truck (Huma Jehan)
Reading Borough Council (RBC) has suspended its green waste collections. RBC say that coronavirus-related staff shortages mean they need to concentrate resources on collecting recycled (burgundy bin) and non-recycled (black bin) household waste.
Aveley Walk play area
On 23 March, the Government announced additional measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The steps included the closure of communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports courts and outdoor gyms. Katesgrove’s play areas are now closed.
Matt Rodda, Reading East MP (official portrait courtesy of the UK parliament).
Matt Rodda, MP for Reading East, spoke in the debate on the Coronavirus Bill on 23 March. The bill sets out the Government’s emergency powers to manage the coronavirus crisis in the United Kingdom.
Reading Voluntary Action (RVA) and Reading Borough Council have joined with the town’s voluntary groups to form the One Reading Community Hub. This will allow volunteers to help tackle the coronavirus crisis and allow anyone to register unmet but urgent welfare needs.
Reading Borough Council is closed
Reading Borough Council (RBC) will hold an urgent meeting of the policy committee this evening, 24 March, at 5pm. The first item on the agenda is the RBC response to the coronavirus epidemic. This includes proposals for the organisation of meetings and decision making at the council in the current situation.
Re3 recycling site
The re3 recycling centre at Smallmead, off the A33 in Reading, has closed to the public until further notice. They have done this because of the prime minister’s instructions to protect NHS services and vulnerable people by immediately closing non-essential businesses.
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