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Saturday 29 March 2014

Mapledurham Miscellaneous

As the local councillor for Mapledurham Ward I am chairman of the Mapledurham Playing Fields Management (MPFM) committee.  Below is an update on various matters:

The Pavilion's car park is pot holed and in need of repair.  Remedial works had originally been scheduled to start today, Saturday 29 March, at 7 am.  However I asked officers to reschedule the works - which will be noisy - as I didn't think residents backing onto the car park would have welcomed being rudely awoken this morning at 7 am!  Added to which the Saturday footballers, who come from far and wide (many by car) are heavily dependent upon the car park.

The MPFM committee last year reaffirmed & minuted its stance against any of the playing fields (land which was left in Trust to the people of Reading and the parish of Mapledurham) being sold.

As I have said publicly before, The Heights primary free school will not be built on Mapledurham Playing Fields.  The temporary location of the school, which will open this September, will be announced very soon and its permanent location will be announced thereafter.  Neither site is on Mapledurham Playing Fields.

Fund raising for the regeneration of the Pavilion continues.  The 3rd dinner dance, which was held last month when I was abroad, raised approximately £6,000 bringing the Warren & District Residents' Association (WADRA) fund raising to over £44 k.  An account to collect donations for the Mapledurham Recreation Ground Charity was set up last year so that Gift Aid (the tax element) can be reclaimed, thereby boosting funds.  To donate go to:  Virgin Money Giving's website

Other monies promised and or collected for the Pavilion's regeneration include:
  • £100 k from Section 106 developer contributions
  • £50 k from Festival Republic
The next fund raising event is this year's summer fete which is happening on 5 July.  Anybody interested in having a stall should contact WADRA