UoR Neighbourhood Forum - 12 May 2008

Planning/Building

The results of the Masterplan consultation will be out end of May – The UoR are completing the environmental survey requested by RBC, whose comments came in late (end Feb). This should eventually be available on the web.

The University has merged with Henley Management College, this will lead to +50 extra students on Whiteknights – These will use the new ICMA Business School, currently under construction.

The Institute of Education currently on the Bulmershe campus will be moving into the London Rd site. The London Rd campus will also be refurbished and incorporate new halls of residents which be situated in the currently unused Murifield Halls, accommodating 150 students.

Within the next 3 months or so, the UoR will be putting in a Reserved Matters application for the Hotel  which will be a 4 star hotel "operated on a  commercial basis") – Cllr Bayes encouraged them  to consult more widely than RBC

Detailed plans will be submitted for consultation for the new student Halls on Whiteknights incorporating current Whiteknights number of halls places plus numbers equal to those from Wells, Sibley and Bulmershe), and there will be another public exhibition. The Bulmershe will eventually be sold off; however, the accommodation is still well with in its usable lifetime, so this may remain for a time. All the remaining Academic facilities, including the Music library, will be relocated to the Whiteknights site.

There are currently no plans for the disused Wells Hall site on Upper Redlands Rd. The UoR would like to develop as student halls, to increase the number of places provided by the
University to reduce pressure on local streets.

There are no plans to open the ‘Reading War Room – Region 6’ to the public or to clear the site for development. This was a nuclear bunker built in the 50’s and designed to house and protect a regional gov’t for region 6, the south east, in the event of nuclear stick during the cold war.

The amount of parking on Campus for staff will be increased to decrease parking on surrounding streets, but the UoR also want to strengthen the green transport plan and where very open to contributing to the formation of cycle lanes to/from town possibly funded by s.106 planning gain.

RUSU Summer Ball

The Ball will be on 31st May, runs 2000 to 0600; would hope to manage in the same way as last year, which had few complaints. Deploying security at the Eastern Ave and the Foxhill Gate entrance was discussed – to reduce the build-up of students in this highly populated area.

Complaints on the night (morning) can go to 0118 378 7799, the security office, and will be sorted. Dai Davis will take the issues around the Upin Arms breakfast to Pubwatch.

End of Term

RUSU will be door knocking on 10th June with leaflets talking about rubbish disposal, recycling, clearing up, bulky waste. RBC will be making extra collections on 21 and 28 June to take stuff away.

Review of past activities

RUSU have done lots of good stuff including a Keep it Green campaign, on-campus rubbish sorting, Globe group, crime aware ness, drink awareness, student safety group, PCSO drop ins, tips on Holiday periods, Halls housing packs, banned initiations. Really need our help getting Landlord Accreditation happening again at the Council.

University ran a good landlord session with 85 landlords talking about exteriors, noise (including clauses in contracts), bins and providing gardening tools so students could maintain their properties.

A student neighbourhood award has been set-up which will be awarded to the most community minded student living outside of the campus. The UoR would like to invite local residents to volunteer to sit on the selection panel (contact Ann Westgarth).