Woodcote Way Post Office Update

Protest in December

Thank you to the nearly 1,000 residents who have signed my petition, written via email or letter, stopped me in the street or invited me in to tell me about their objections to the Post Office’s proposal to remove the dedicated post office counter from Woodcote Way.

I submitted a detailed objection listing the arguments against this flawed proposal to the Post Office in the hope that it be scrapped.  In total 903 people signed the petition (paper + electronic copies) and 91 sent me their objections by letter or email. I captured these objections in a spreadsheet which, together with the petition, I enclosed with my response. 

The Post Office is currently, as explained to me by the responsible External Stakeholder Manager, analysing the consultation responses before coming to a final decision.  Their main focus is trying to overcome accessibility issues.  I was informed that a meeting was taking place yesterday to look at the accessibility of Conisboro Stores, where postal services are proposed to go behind a shared counter.

I believe there are significant issues which cannot be overcome and I have worked hard putting together the evidence to substantiate this commonly held view.  A powerful fact is that even those for whom postal services would be much closer to their home objected because of the fundamental flaws with the proposal.

The consultation result is expected imminently and as soon as I hear I will spread the news.

More Detail Behind Temporary Closure of Mapledurham Pavilion

As anticipated there has been considerable interest in the temporary closure of Mapledurham Pavilion and the impact on users.  

Finding alternative available accommodation in the area is challenging as community space, as anyone who has tried to book space will know, is well-used and always in high demand. This highlights, if ever it were needed, the huge importance the Pavilion plays for our community.  Residents of all ages benefit from organisations from babies to retired residents.  

What happens next hangs on the results of the intrusive survey which RBC has commissioned.  For information, here is the latest response provided to me by Reading Borough Council:

Dear Cllr Ballsdon 

You requested a brief history of the latest inspection of the hall.

Following a report that the roof was leaking into a store the building was visited by the Corporate Clerk of Works within Property services to arrange repairs.  While there on the Thursday 14^th January he was concerned about the cladding on the interior of the south facing wall which looked insecure. Given the use of the building and possibility of large panels becoming dislodged and exposed finger traps etc he raised his concerns with the Programme Manager within the Council’s Leisure and Recreation Team the following day (Friday 15^th). A meeting on site first thing on Monday was agreed to assess the situation.  At that meeting it was agreed to seek specialist advice as they could not tell the condition of the structure below and there may be some flexing in the wall.

Advice was sought from the Property Services Manager who recommended engaging KRP consulting engineers who have previous knowledge of the facility.

The Clerk Of Works met KRP at Mapledurham on Tuesday 19^th January.

On the 20^th January the engineer fed back his observations recommending the closure of the facility. This was in the form of an email not a formal report as the extent of inspection was limited in both time and ability to access supporting sub structure. However from what he was able to establish from his initial inspection he made the following recommendation.

“We consider that progressive deterioration has most likely occurred, particularly to the timber framed structural elements, primarily as a result of damp ingress, although we cannot identify the extent or rate of progression.

In view of these uncertainties, for Health & Safety reasons, we suggest that the building be taken out of use until the intrusive investigation is carried out, the extent of the defects identified, and a programme of remedial works undertaken”.

The hall was then closed on the 21^st January. It was also decided that a detailed intrusive survey was required and that KRP be commissioned to undertake this work to produce a report to allow the council to identify the best way forward. This is being arranged for the six week closure which will likely include scaffolding parts of the building to access roof voids, removal of some cladding and necessary reinstatement of damage caused during the survey.

As the service manager for Leisure and Recreation I was aware of the progress of these events and made reference to the inspection at the management meeting on the evening of the 20^th.

Kind regards

Ben Stanesby

Temporary Closure of Mapledurham Pavilion

Mapledurham Pavilion

BREAKING News: This afternoon a decision has been taken by Reading Borough Council (RBC) to temporarily close Mapledurham Pavilion.  The Pavilion is, like the Mapledurham Playing Fields themselves, held in Trust by RBC.

User groups are being told that an independent structural engineer has recommended the temporary closure as bowing is clearly visible on the southern external wall.  It is anticipated at this stage that the closure will be for approximately 6 weeks.

Please note that the Football and Tennis clubs will both be able to continue to run as normal as the changing rooms and Tennis club area are unaffected.

As Chairman of the Mapledurham Playing Fields Management committee I was informed of the decision.  I have asked RBC questions about the help that will be provided to users to find alternative accommodation but also about the cost of repairs; who and when a decision is likely; and at what level a tipping point is likely to be reached to make major works necessary.

I have asked that RBC issue a press release, put up notices on the Pavilion and keeps me updated.