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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Bowling alley proposal for Caversham Road shop

The company Bowl Central is planning to take over the former Dawsons music shop at 65 Caversham Road, which closed last year, and convert it into a bowling alley and family entertainment complex. The facility would have seven bowling lanes, three interactive dart boards, shuffleboards and a children’s ‘redemption’ games area. The plan is to sell food as well, including pizzas, panini and salads.

Ahead of taking over the old Dawsons unit, Bowl Central’s owning company KTO Ltd has submitted a licensing application for the bar that will be located inside. The company has applied to sell alcohol and food and play music on site from 10am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Since this article was published we have met the developer, who has offered to amend the licence application to change the closing time to 11pm weekdays and midnight at weekends. Our feeling is that this is a reasonable compromise, and if the application is amended we are happy to withdraw our objections. If you have any views please email us at info@bell-tower.org.uk

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