Yep. It's a picture of me in which I am actually smiling.
Shocking, I know, (especially after my recent appearence on the glum councillors website)
It's because I have good news to report this evening on two local campaigns we have been running in the ward against flawed developments.
Members of the Planning Applications Committee overturned the recommendation by RBC planning officers and voted to REJECT a planning application to demolish 46 Redlands Road and build 10 luxury flats in it's place.
This follows an active campaign I have led in the ward in recent weeks.
It's the second time an application to redevelop this site has been turned down by the Planning Applications Committee. The first time was in March 2008 and it followed another local campaign led by the Lib Dems.
The previous application went to appeal last May but the Inspector agreed with us and chucked it out.
And once again the community spirit we see every day in Redlands shone out as I was joined at the Committee meeting by a small group of residents from Allcroft Road and Redlands Road.
Two residents who live close to the application site spoke passionately against the proposal real concerns about overlooking, privacy and parking.
We are very lucky in Redlands that there are so many local people who care deeply about the area and are prepared to stand up and be counted at key moments - even when it means giving up an evening on a wet and chilly December evening.
I followed up public speakers with a short speech pointing out the serious criticisms the planning inspector had made about the previous application to develop this site, and emphasising the fact that the plan had caused a lot of anxiety locally (23 letters of objection were submitted).
I made the point that the majority of complaints I received about the application were around fears of the damage this development could do to the character of the area.
46 Redlands Road is on the edge of three Conservation Areas.It is council policy that any development should enhance these areas. I am campaigning to get this bit of Redlands Road included as a Conservation Area to give it greater protection in the future.
To our great relief (and surprise!) Members of the Committee who spoke (including my colleague Cllr Kirsten Bayes) shared our concerns and refused to approve the plan.
It was good to hear that other councillors care about our part of town. Cllr Isobel Ballsdon (who represents a ward in Caversham) said she knew 46 Redlands Road "I pass it every day" and thought the loss of the building would be a shame.
We'll have to see what happens next (it is possible the applicant will go to appeal) but unless plans on the table are substantially improved we will continue to oppose redevelopment of this site.
The other issue on the agenda tonight was the ongoing saga of the planning application to convert 22 Alexandra Road into 4 flats.
This application had been deferred by Members of the Committee twice already.
This time Members went with officers recommendation to refuse on parking grounds.
I fear this won't be the last we hear of this plan though, so watch this space.
We would like to thank all the residents who have contacted us about these two applications with their concerns and who submitted formal objections to RBC.
Our non-stop campaign to protect and enhance the Redlands area continue. More housing is needed in Reading but it must meet local needs (that means less executive flats!) and not be detrimental to the character of our existing streets and communities.
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