Redlands Liberal Democrats

An evening at Reading University

A useful evening spent viewing the University of Reading's Halls redevelopment plans. My Lib Dem Council colleagues and I quizzed architects and planners about various issues including the design, sustainability and affordability of the new halls.

Overall the approach taken by the University seems sensible, but it will obviously be important that students and local residents are listened to. The exhibition will be running on Friday and Saturday so do take a look.

Given the number of private halls springing up all over the place (including the Unite proposal at former UoR property, Mansfield Hall, London Road), it is good to see Reading University maintaining a reasonable level of affordable accomodation on campus. This will also help ensure that pressure on the local private-rented housing stock does not increase. I was interested to see that 'town house' style accomodation will potentially be offered in the new development: student houses off campus continue to be popular and this move clearly reflected student tastes.

The University's plans don't currently include redeveloping Wells Hall (too expensive apparently): we'll need to keep an eye on what happens there. I also enquired about progress on the University's controversial new hotel development and was told we should expect a detailed planning application in the autumn. It seems the economic downturn may have given the hotel partner which is being brought in to run the hotel, cold feet, so no idea yet when that project will get underway.

After the exhibition Cllr Gareth Epps and I met up with Rhiannon Horsley, newly-elected President of Reading University, and Rachel Reid VP Student Rights and Diversity to hear about their campaigns and how we can work together. I must admit I did feel slightly old: after all this is my third RUSU Executive since 2006!

As students make up 50% of the electorate in Redlands ward it's really important for us to have a good relationship with RUSU officers. I never got involved in student union politics at University and I'm constantly impressed by the self-confidence and campaigning skills of RUSU Exec members. 

Anyway, it's great to see more women leading RUSU, although I will miss Sally Pearman, outgoing President. Rhiannon and Rachel were full of energy and ideas and I was particularly pleased to hear student housing and recycling was at the top of their agenda.

Earlier this year RUSU ran a very successful 'Go Green' week and I was pleased to hear a big, better version is planned for later in the year.As I was walking around the campus I noticed again how much better the University recycling facilities were than in many places around the Borough.I last looked into this issue back in April and we clearly need to again.

We will be working together on a number of issues including pressing RBC to look again at reviving its landlord accreditation scheme and to campaign for kerbside glass recycling, as well as continuing to campaign to get student voices heard on the Council by promoting student participation in elections in Reading.

I'm looking forward to Freshers Fayre already! 

UoR Halls redevelopment consultation

If you live close to the university, you should have received a leaflet informing you about the planned Halls redevelopment consultation. The University of reading will be holding two public exhibitions in the foyer of the new Carrington building (pictured to the right). There you will also be able to discuss the plans with University consultants and there will be feedback forms availible. I am sure this will be of interest to many local residents, and a good chance to air your views.

We wil be watching with interest to see if the provision for student accomidation remains at present numbers or is increased beyond its current level. There will also be a need for this work to be carried out efficiently - so that there will be no short term reduction of the number of rooms availible, as the old buildings are pulled down. Price will also be a hot topic, there would be no point in building new Halls if the students can't afford to live in them - so seek private accomidation arround the UoR.

The dates for your diaries:
Friday 11 July 2008 from 10am to 8pm
Saturday 12 July 2008 from 10am to 2pm

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).

University of Reading Neighbourhood Forum

A quick reminder that the next meeting of the Reading  University Neighbourhood Forum will be held on Monday 12 May at 7.30pm in Seminar Room 1, Black Horse House, Whiteknights. Refreshments will be served from 7pm.

This meeting is an annual open forum for local residents to put their questions to Reading University's Management team, ranging from anti-social behaviour to planning.

The agenda includes a report from the University's Facilities Management team about future development of the University campuses, which will be the first we've heard from the University following the public consultation on the Whiteknights Development Plan which took place last year.

There will also be a report from Community Relations Manager, Ann Westgarth, on student/community relations.

If you cannot attend the meeting but wish to discuss any issues or problems with Reading University, please find Ann's contact details here. Alternatively, contact Kirsten, Glenn or myself.

Elections 2008: RUSU leads the way again

On the subject of elections and voting, I came across Reading University Students' Union's excellent RUSU Elections 2008 site which includes videos made by current RUSU Sabs explaining the process and the roles on offer, to potential candidates as well as voters.

I think web-based movements encouraging voter turnout and participation orginated in the US. MoveOn is one of the most famous. Students for Barack Obama is a more recent example. These sites show how far behind the three main British political parties are on this kind of thing!

Anyway, RUSU elections take place in Week 7 and I'm really looking forward to finding out more about the candidates and meeting the new RUSU Executive. It's absolutely vital we work together on issues for the benefit of students in Reading, and I've found building good links with RUSU to be a really worthwhile experience over the past couple of years. The campaign for a polling station on campus was a good recent example, as was our ongoing campaign to improve street lighting around the University area.

I will be launching a campaign to get more students to register to vote in conjunction with RUSU, in a  few days, and I'd love to see the Council trialling a website like this perhaps with video diaries to reach out to younger voters and promote participation in local elections. The In fact I think I will send a link to the Head of Electoral Administration!

As the youngest female Councillor on the Council this issue is really close to my heart and I see it as my responsiblity to help encourage more young people to take part in elections.

The Council has got it right with it's support for the Reading Youth Cabinet iwhich is a great idea and recently proved how effective it can be when it raised concerns about Reading Buses ID card scheme.

Young people I have spoken to feel deeply about lots of issues in Reading including the environment, crime and public transport. One of the first emails I received as a councillor was from a GCSE student wanting me to get the Council to do more to get Reading Schools to 'go green' .

If more of them voted there could be a mini-revolution in thinking at RBC (and I think plenty of more progressive policies as a result!)