Redlands Liberal Democrats: University area: action for students and local residents

As predicted on this Blog a couple of weeks ago, Reading's Labour Cabinet endorsed fully the recommendations put forward by Scrutiny to tackle issues connected with private rented housing in the town.

This was the culmination of successful local Lib Dem campaign to get these long overlooked issues on to the agenda. The next big challenge will be making sure the Council and other bodies go one further and deliver real change.

The Scrutiny Review included a number of recommendations aimed at local universities in Reading, calling on them to share the burden of responsibility for improving student housing and reducing environmental impacts.

I wrote to Cllr Deborah Edwards, Labour Lead Member for Housing a few weeks ago asking her to take these suggestions forward (as only the Executive technically has the power to do this):

"I am writing to see if you might be happy to write to the Vice Chancellors of both Reading University and TVU to seek to enter into a dialogue with these two bodies about the range of issues highlighted during the course of the review, and to draw attention to the specific recommendations about student housing and the environment in the university area...I would be happy to work with you as appropriate to seek action from the universities in the town towards meeting objectives outlined in the scrutiny review."

I am pleased to say my email was met with a very positive response from Cllr Edwards:

"The meeting of the Cabinet endorsed the recommendations, of which, many are already ongoing and in action. Therefore, no worries that this will be a "dusty document"... I also stated that I want to be part of the team to seek and put pressure on the Reading Universities to work with us to improve student housing. Also I, will of course, work to progress the Landlord Accrediation Scheme. Let's review this together and I am sure can work to relaunch this very valuable scheme."

I am particularly pleased to hear of Cllr Edwards' support for a revival of the Landlord Accreditation Scheme and I'm sure this will be welcome news for Reading's student community.

I will be meeting Cllr Edwards and officers soon to discuss next steps.

The other area we are campaigning for more action from Reading University is around parking in the University area.

We received a massive response to our recent consultation on RBC's proposed changes to parking restrictions on Lydford Road, and my ward colleague Cllr Glenn Goodall will be bringing these concerns to the attention of the Council's Traffic Management Advisory Panel on Tuesday evening.

We are calling on RBC for a full scale review of parking problems around Erleigh Road to include a discussion with Reading University (and indeed the Royal Berks Hospital) about ways of reducing problems for residents. These institutions must be part of the solution, not just the problem.