Works to re-start at Mapledurham Pavilion

This afternoon Reading Borough Council (RBC) announced the welcome news that refurbishment of Mapledurham Pavilion will restart on Monday 4 May.

Mapledurham Pavilion's works to restart on 4 May 

Below is the information RBC has provided:

Re Mapledurham Pavilion works

The works to the pavilion started in early March by AYM Services Ltd, but were temporarily put on hold due to Covid-19 and the difficulty in meeting social distancing guidance.

Central Government have identified that where construction work is able to safely continue it should do so to aid future economic recovery. The Government have recently updated its Covid–19 construction safety guidance giving more specific advice on safe working practices. AYM have adjusted their working practices to reflect and meet this updated advice on social distancing rules.

AYM will re-start work on the pavilion on Monday 4th May with a reduced work force to build the small side extension and replace the existing roof and windows. Then the majority of work is inside, refurbishing the interior of the pavilion, for example installing new heating, electrics, changing facilities and toilets.

We have not taken this decision lightly. The pavilion is a community facility that we would like to reopen as soon as we are allowed for local people to use. We are aware of resident concerns about noise, disruption and social distancing caused by other nearby works and have put in place measures to address these concerns for the pavilion works. These include:

• A smaller workforce to meet revised Covid-19 construction safety guidance and will mean less activity on site at any one time
• We have asked that AYM work with the Council’s Environment Protection (EP) Team and apply for a S61 noise licence to limit or reduce any noisy work where possible to reflect that there are more people staying at home
• A noise monitor is to be installed near the pavilion to automatically record noise levels to help the EP Team monitor noise and target any site visits on the pavilion works
• All compressors and generators, where practicable, will be ‘sound reduced’ models fitted with acoustic covers to remain closed whenever they are in use
• All plant and machinery are to be fitted with effective silencers where available, will be sited away from houses where practicable, and will be shut down when not in use
• The AYM site manager will letter drop nearest neighbours to provide information as work progresses and will be available on site to listen to any queries about the pavilion works 

AYM construction working hours are Monday–Friday 8 am - 6 pm and, if needed, Saturday 9 am - 1 pm. They will be arriving on site between 7 am - 8 am to carry out safety checks but are aware that actual construction work is not to start before 8 am.

To help immediate neighbours to the pavilion know what is happening AYM will provide regular updates to them. The site manager of AYM is Michael Leith, AYM site manager and may be contacted by email on Michael.leith@aymservices.co,uk.

For all enquiries relating to the construction of the Heights Primary School, in the first instance please contact the Kier project manager on John.Hempton2@kier.co.uk. While the Department for Education are controlling the works to the Heights School, the Council’s Environment Protection team are also monitoring the school works and may be contacted at environmental.protection@reading.gov.uk For more general information about the Landscape works taking place at Mapledurham Playing Fields, please visit RBC's website page

Urgent works to Grade I listed Chazey Court Barn

Chazey Court Barn - start of new scaffolding (taken on 24/4)

Chazey Court Barn, one of only six buildings within Reading Borough to have a Grade I listing, is at last to have urgent works carried out. It dates back to the 17th Century and has been on the Heritage at Risk Register for many years because of its precarious condition.

Last week new scaffolding started going up to support the building. The scaffolding will be going higher as there will be a temporary tin roof  above the tiles to keep the building watertight.

Chazey Court Barn is owned by Mapledurham Estate. There is a long and complicated planning history. For years there has been a stale mate with many organisations and individuals, fronted by Reading Borough Council (RBC)  trying to get the owner and/or leaseholder to look after this important building, the restoration of which forms part of a successfully appealed application to build a nursing home.

RBC had a meeting on site in February with Historic England and the sub-leaseholders, InMind to discuss and agree a schedule of urgent works. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions coming into force, commencement was delayed. JM Civil Engineering are carrying out the restoration works. They have put up a sign with their contact details and are extremely keen to keep disruption to a minimum.

RBC has asked the sub-leaseholder to submit a Certificate of Lawfulness for a proposed development to establish that the planning permission is extant, ie that all pre-commencement conditions have been adequately satisfied and that the time limits set by condition for starting the development and/or submitting reserved matters have not expired.

Digger on top of the soil temporarily put into the balancing pool

On Friday lorry loads of soil were off-loaded temporarily into the area previously dug out for the flood alleviation balancing pond. More lorry loads will be off-loaded here this week. Please do not be concerned as the soil will be taken out to create a bund around the barn and the balancing pond (whilst maintaining access to the properties to the west) to secure the site.

Contractor's details

Do get in contact with me

email: Isobel.Ballsdon@reading.gov.uk

mob: 07717 292 003 if you would like any further information or would like me to put specific questions to John at JM Civil Engineering or the RBC planner dealing with this site.

Plea from Thames Water + Green Waste Collections Re-starting

Thames Water are pleading with residents to put 'non-disposables' in the bin rather than down the toilet.

Bin wet wipes, kitchen roll and tissues: don't flush them!

"One of the unfortunate impacts of COVID-19 is that we are seeing an increase in blockages in our sewer networks, as people doing extra cleaning or who have had problems buying toilet tolls are flushing non-biodegradable alternatives, such as kitchen roll or antibacterial wipes. This is creating problems in our sewers which can result in sewage backing up into people’s homes or polluting the environment."


Welcome news for gardeners is that Reading Borough Council's green waste collections will be re-starting from w/c 27 April. The annual charge will run from this date.

Green waste collections had been suspended on 27 March because the council wanted to ensure grey and red bin collections were prioritised despite staff shortages due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Excess garden waste will not be collected: only that presented in the green wheelie bins or bags provided.

To sign up for the green waste service visit fill in this form

Mid April update on works at MPF

Here's an update on various matters which I hope you'll find helpful.

The Heights primary school
The piling works for the new school will be finished by the end of this Wednesday, 22 April. Kier, the DfE's contractor, has managed to reduce dramatically the programmed 4 weeks of piling works down to 2 weeks. Testing checks on Thursday 23 April might possibly be needed, but if so should only last that day.

Here's a video of Andy from Kier describing the works when I visited the site office a few days ago to check out the noise and vibration levels.

Mapledurham Playing Fields' drainage works

Drainage channel with sand on top

Agripower, the Council's contractor, re-started its works this month within the cordoned off area of the pitches.

Drainage is being improved and once complete, grass seed will be put down. The area will be re-opened as soon as the grass has become established enough to walk on.

1 of 3 new tarmac links from Hewett Ave

Separately, back in late March, the council finished off and tarmacked the three entrances into MPF from Hewett Avenue to enable easy access for all.

Mapledurham Pavilion works
Council officers are investigating with the contractor how to re-start the Pavilion refurbishment works while complying with Covid-19 distancing instructions.

Pavilion - awaiting a restart of refurbishment works

View west across playing fields one sunset

One Reading Community Hub Support

As a reminder, One Reading Community Hub Support has been set up for Reading Borough residents to help provide extra support where needed.

If you, or someone you know, is in need of extra support due to Covid-19 either:

Fill in the form at online coronavirus support form and someone will be in touch, or call:

Freephone 0808 189 4325 from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Fridays and 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday and Sundays.

If you, or your business wish to volunteer, fill in the form here.

Groups can register online with Reading Neighbourhood Network

Local charities: information about scaled-back services

I received the information below from the council about scaled-back services from local charities:

Local charities have scaled back or suspended their face-to-face services to protect staff and their vulnerable service users from coronavirus.

However most continue to support people via phone or email services (see below for latest list compiled by Healthwatch Reading and Reading Voluntary Action).

Reading Voluntary Action is coordinating public offers to volunteer during this time.

Age UK Berkshire: All classes, activities and events will be closed from 21 March until further notice. Its office remains open: please phone 0118 959 4242

Age UK Reading:  Has closed all lunch clubs. Befriending moving to a telephone-only service but some vulnerable people are still being visited with agreement from both parties. Happy Feet service suspended but could be brought back in a different way. Information and advice line still open on: phone: 0118 950 2480 or email: info@ageukreading.org.uk

Alliance for Cohesion and Racial Health Equality (Acre): has suspended Rose Centre sessions for victims of FGM, and all other face to face interactions between staff and service users unless absolutely necessary, call 0118 951 0279 and leave a message or email info@acre-reading.org.

Berkshire West Your Way (supporting people with mental health needs): has cancelled all groups and drop-in’s and are to triage calls from their 90 existing clients

Change, Grow, Live (Reading’s drug and alcohol service): all groups, assessments and 121 appointments will be moved to telephone or video call. External drop-ins will be postponed and replaced with offers of phone assessments or support. Certain people will get two weeks’ supply of medication to reduce daily supervised pharmacy visits and arrangements will be made for users who are self-isolating.

Citizens Advice: Has closed its Reading face-to-face service until further notice. Advice is available online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk or by telephone 03444 111 306.

Communicare (which gives benefits/housing/money/jobs advice): It is working hard to keep its Advice Centre open with limited staff. It will deal with URGENT issues only and will limit the number of clients in the waiting room. Call before visiting. Advice available by phone and email: 0118 926394 office@communicare.org.uk

Compass Recovery College (offering courses to people with mental health needs): is closed until further notice

Depression Xpression: is suspending all meetings including Friday morning coffee until further notice. It has set up a WhatsApp Group and a Facebook Messenger Group (join their Facebook group and ask to be added to the chat group) for people to keep in touch during this time.

Launchpad Reading: Has launched a ‘here for you’ telephone service ‘for anyone in need of support, whether they have housing or homelessness issues or not. Call on 0118 929 1111 or email support@launchpadreading.org.uk.

Reading Association for the Blind (RAB): has suspended all clubs, outings, home visits and face-to-face appointments. It is providing a telephone advice, support and signposting service and may set up phone befriending and scheduled group chats.

Reading Community Learning Centre (which runs language, life skills and craft classes for women from black and ethnic minority communities); has closed until at least 27 April 2020.

Reading Mencap: ME Day activity at Alexandra Road & St Paul, Coffee Club, Gateway Club, Disco and Saturday youth club will not be running until further notice. Has provided email & telephone for family support and an Easy read leaflet for service users.

Support U: (Reading’s LGBT+ charity): Is offering a video or telephone call in place of face-to-face meetings (although they cannot offer video or phone calls to people in counselling) and their groups are cancelled for the current month.

March update on works at Mapledurham Playing Fields

As lots of residents are interested in the ongoing works at Mapledurham Playing Fields, so I hope you'll find this update helpful.

One of three Hewett Ave entrances

Notification by entrances

I am pleased to say that following my requests to connect MPF's breedon footpath from Hewett Avenue into Mapledurham Playing Fields, the Council's Highways department have a team starting the works on Tuesday 10 March. The works are expected to take up to a fortnight to complete.

One pedestrian access point will be open at all times (photo above to the right shows the current situation with mud and the grass verge between the road surface and footpath).

Temporary patch to be resurfaced

This is great news, particularly for mobility impaired residents as currently anyone pushing a wheel chair, pushchair or using a mobility walker would find all three access points tricky to negotiate.

Later this week Kier will be closing the access road to the Pavilion from 08.00 on Thursday 12 March until 08.00 on Friday 13 March for resurfacing works. This is to tackle the area near the junction with the Upper Woodcote Road which has had a very temporary patch for now.

Pedestrian/dog and cycle access will be maintained throughout on the temporary path (see above on the left-hand side of the photo and access road).

View towards Pavilion/school

Temporary closure notice

Whilst talking about pedestrian access, please note that the central footpath from the car park to the playing fields between the Pavilion and The Heights school's site has been closed whilst refurbishment works to the Pavilion take place.

For access from or to the car park, please use the footpath alongside the tennis courts. Anybody who hasn't been to the car park for a couple of weeks will be pleased to know that the whole area has been reopened for public use (see photo on the right above).

Meantime construction works for the school are proceeding. I saw contractors carefully cleaning down the mud from construction vehicles in the car park.