Our Heritage Open Days walks are back in September

Our area has lots of fascinating history, and this year we are organising heritage walks around our area again in September as part of Heritage Open Days. The walks will take place on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 September and will last about 90 minutes.

Entitled ‘Caversham Road: An area shaped by Victorian aesthetics and innovation’, the walk will take in much of the area’s Victorian industry, showing signs of what remains and pictures of local scenes from the era. We’ll also be looking at some of the original Victorian architectural features that survive to this day.

Further details and booking at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caversham-road-an-area-shaped-by-victorian-aesthetics-and-innovation-tickets-948165768337. Please note that places will be limited to 12 per walk so prior booking will be required.

These walks get booked up quickly, and we are keen to offer them to as many local people as possible. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

We’ve also made the walk into a 20 minute documentary – you can watch this here:

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Newport Road street party 2024

Saturday 8 June 2024 – another great Bell Tower street party in Newport Road. As usual there were plenty of activities for the kids, including Splat the Rat, colouring and face painting. The weather was a bit cool this year, but it stayed fine all afternoon. DJ Burt was back spinning some great party sounds, and we had live rock covers from the band again, featuring one or two familiar faces – everything from the Beatles to some hard rock from Kings of Leon. Andy and Bee from the Moderation were back again with Thai curry dishes. Many thanks to Andy and the Mod team for the fantastic free food, everyone who helped and New Hope and the residents of Newport Road for their support. We’re looking forward to next year’s party!

Band photo courtesy of Claire Thatcher.

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Ready, steady, grow!

The Bell Tower Community Association’s gardening competition is back, for the first time since the Covid pandemic, with a chance to win a garden centre voucher.

All you need to do is start cultivating your front garden and tell us that you are interested in entering the competition. Judging will take place in July, and the winner will be awarded a £30 voucher for Richfield Garden Centre, next to the Rivermead.

To enter please contact Richard Chandler at 61 Cardiff Road, email richard@bell-tower.org.uk or leave a message with your address and contact details on 0118 950 8761.

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Newport Road street party 2023

Saturday 3 June 2023 – another great Bell Tower street party in Newport Road. This year’s party was attended by the newly-elected mayor, Councillor Tony Page, who presented the prize to the winning quiz team. There were plenty of activities for the kids, including Splat the Rat, colouring and cupcake decorating and table football. The weather was just about perfect, if a little breezy as usual. Local DJ Burt was back spinning some great party sounds, and we had live music from covers band Jamboozled (you might spot one or two familiar faces there!) Andy and the team from the Moderation were back with Thai curry dishes. Many thanks to Andy and the Mod team for the fantastic free food, everyone who helped and New Hope and the residents of Newport Road for their support. We’re looking forward to next year’s party!

Band photo courtesy of Claire Thatcher.

 

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Plans for Carters site revealed

After several months of waiting it has finally been revealed that Bellway Homes is the purchaser of the Carters site in Caversham Road. Bellway has just submitted a planning application to Reading Borough Council detailing proposals for the site.

The application is for a mix of houses and flats totalling 60 in all, with 30% (18) of the dwellings being ‘affordable’ (20% below market rates or the option of shared purchase) – so in a way similar to a scaled down version of the Printworks development on the former Cox & Wyman site. First impressions are that the quality of the design looks decent with reservations about how the Caversham Road frontage will fit with the townscape and questions about whether at least part of the existing Victorian facades could be retained. We are also unsure about the safety of the proposed entrance from Caversham Road, which is on the inside of a bend.

The full planning application can be viewed and comments submitted at planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/detail.asp?AltRef=221324.

(Photo: Bellway Homes)

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Newport Road Jubilee street party 2022

Saturday 4 June 2022 – another successful Bell Tower street party in Newport Road. This year’s party was during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration weekend, and featured a Jubilee themed quiz and red, white and blue cupcake decorating fun for the kids. The weather forecast wasn’t very promising but it turned out sunny and pleasantly warm. Local DJ Burt was back spinning some great party sounds, and had everyone dancing in the street to some great funk and disco tunes. Andy and the team from the Moderation were back, this time with their wood-fired pizza oven. Many thanks to Andy and the Mod team for the fantastic free pizzas, everyone who helped and New Hope and the residents of Newport Road for their support. We’re looking forward to next year’s party already!

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