TPLC Email 21/09/2022
  • March 2024 - RBC have made the decision to delay the Local Plan update by 4 months due to continued central Government guideline changes. Next update expected around July 2024

 

  • December 2023 - our submission to change the land designation to Local Green Space rather than being suitable for residential development is included in the draft Local Plan - pages 28, 29 and 84 in document (link on Useful Links tab). Have your say and feedback to the council using the online form answering questions 15 and 75, by emailing them at planningpolicy@reading.gov.uk or writing to them at Planning Policy Team, Reading Borough Council, Civic Offices, Reading RG1 2LU. This needs to be done before 5pm on 31/01/2024.


  • November 2023 - we've been busy behind the scenes since we last updated. Wildlife warning traffic signs have been put up on Kentwood and Armour Hill to help protect the wildlife (and cars) from damage. TVERC and Reading Borough Council have agreed the land meets the criteria for being a Local Wildlife Site (material planning permission protection) and our submission to make changes to the land designation in the council's Local Plan updates have been included in the draft.


  • 18/10/2022 - a busy few weeks while I was away! Clearance work started on site using petrol strimmers. Despite repeatedly being told there were badgers on site they still used the strimmers right over and around the active setts. This is intentional criminal behaviour so Thames Valley Police were called and a crime logged. Tall Oaks and the ecologist from Aspect Arborculitural left the site last week and no more activity has been seen. The car park is once again open to plot holders but no other updates have been given. A public meeting was held by councillors Glenn Dennis and Mark Keeping on 14/10/2022. There was a large turn out with over 120 local residents, other cross-party councillors and the mayor but no show from TPLC (or Chaneys, Ridgepoint Homes or Aspect Arborcultural). A new article has come out in the Reading Chronicle today and a new poster has been designed featuring one of our badgers caught on wildlife camera. See Useful Links tab if you want to download and print a copy for displaying in your window. Also added a document rebutting the Q&As on the TPLC website from our Facebook page.

 

  • 28/09/2022 - We're still barricading the gate now TPLC have closed it to plot holders. Our phantom poster Poster has been in action again and an anonymous tip off alerted us to an Ecological Survey commissioned by TPLC to support their 2017 Local Plan submission. This lists the TVERC records relating to a large number of protected species in the area (again on our Useful Links tab). This is not the "anecdotal evidence" continuously referred to by TPLC and their ecologists Aspect Arborcultural


  • 25/09/2022 - TPLC Governance Document added to Useful Links for those wanting to clarify the misinformation on the TPLC website


  • 24/09/2022 - Reading Chronicle publish article about our peaceful blocking of the car park on 12th September to try and talk to TPLC and the ecologist from Ridgepoint Homes. First video evidence of hedgehogs on site discovered


  • 21/09/2022 - TPLC issue letter to some plot holders telling them they will be shutting the car park from this coming Sunday despite them paying rent that includes use of this amenity. Letter including a link to the estate agents Chaney's web site that also links to the Ecology Method Statement showing clear disregard for wildlife welfare and denial of TVERC recordings of protected species. Letter can be found on Useful Links tab


  • 10/09/2022 - yesterday evening we were made aware that TPLC had employed contractors to clear all vegetation apart from trees from the land to be sold. We believe this to be a deliberate move to contravene wildlife protections put in place for planning and building purposes. We are petitioning to try and get this work stopped. Join us at 8:00 on 12th September at the allotment gate on Armour Hill. Full details of clearance can be found via the Useful Links page


  • 22/06/2022 - Reading Borough Council planning committee voted unanimously to reject an objection to the blanket Tree Preservation Order submitted by TPLC thus making it permanent until such point as the Council decide to revisit the site. Thanks go to councillors on the committee who spoke in favour of preserving the nature of the land especially in light of the climate emergency and the impact clearance would have on biodiversity - Karen Rowland, John Ennis (who also relayed views of Mark Keeping and Glenn Dennis), James Moore, Paul Carnell (relayed view of Raj Singh) and Jo Lovelock.


  • 10/05/2022 - Frustratingly nothing new to update - no information on the Asset of Community Value or if anyone wants to even buy the land.  TPLC still holding off letting empty allotments out to those on the waiting list


  • 22/03/2022 - TPLC replied in part to our letter - the only definitive answer given by TPLC to any of the queries raised that we've seen - to say permission to access the land to be sold is not given


  • 10/03/2022 - Reading Borough Council protect the allotments and surrounding land with a blanket Tree Preservation Order and their wildlife officer acknowledges sufficient evidence of  a badger sett on site - any work undertaken on the land (to clear undergrowth, dig, put up new fencing etc) could contravene the Protection of Badgers Act 1992


  • 24/02/2022 - open letter sent to TPLC copying in local councillors and MP outlining first phase of campaign prior to offer deadline - see the new Open Letter tab


  • 22/02/2022 - Hard copy petitions collected from all but the Victoria and Butchers Arms pubs as phase 1 of our campaign is coming to a close. Over 400 signatures collected (plus nearly 500 on the on-line petition). A sure sign of success in our mission to raise awareness of the sale before bids are needed to be in by (28/02/2022)


  • 22/02/2022 - Article in Get Reading instigated by KKG. 



  • 04/02/2022 - Petitions also now available at the Little Coffee Express Van in Arthur Newbery Park, The Mad Hatters Pottery Cafe, Cats Protection Shop, Sue Ryder shop, Istanbul Mangal, No 96 Home and Gifts and the Kebab Van


  • 28/01/2022 - website launched


  • 24/01/2022 - Petitions available in Pets & Plants, The Tilehurst Cobbler, Daisy Chain, The Turkish Barber and the Tilehurst Veterinary Centre


  • 22/01/2022 - Petitions available in The Butchers Arms and the Victoria pubs and C&G Hardware


  • 21/01/2022 - Interview and article in the Reading Chronicle


  • 20/01/2022 - Launch of our Keep Kentwood Green Facebook page


  • 19/01/2022 - Discussion of our group and aims at the Tilehurst Globe meeting


  • 15/01/2022 - Leafleting begins of over 2,000 local homes and supporting local businesses to raise awareness of the sale and call concerned residents to action


  • 11/01/2022 - Initial meeting to kick off Keep Kentwood Green


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