A Christmas festival that takes place annually in Reading has been given consent to go ahead again this year.
The Reading Winter Wonderland will take place for a third year in a row at Hills Meadow in Caversham. That is just one of the planning decisions Reading Borough Council has made recently.
Councillors also decided to retain temporary classrooms at a school and a temporary car park during a meeting of the council’s planning applications committee on Wednesday, October 4.
You can view each plan that was approved by typing its reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
Reading Winter Wonderland (231094)
Reading Winter Wonderland can go ahead at Hills Meadow car park again as councillors unanimously approved the event operator’s plans.
The operators are now set to install an ice rink, marquee and other temporary structures at the car park.
Winter Wonderland is due to open on Wednesday, November 15 and will have its final day on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
The organiser Billy Williams said: “We’ve grown it from an acorn, and I think it’s grown into something good for the town.”
Retention of a temporary hut at Primary School (231046)
Members of the planning committee approved Reading Borough Council’s own plan to retain a temporary, two-storey hut to use for classrooms at The Ridgeway Primary School in Hillbrow, South Reading.
Council planning officer Marcie Rejwerska clarified that the temporary building hasn’t been used since 2017, but there is a desire to bring it back into use to accommodate special educational needs (SEND) pupils for five years until 2028.
She also said that work is required to get it ready for occupancy, with the plan being approved unanimously.
Councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) who represents the area, said: “There is nothing here that can be remotely opposed to, indeed, it’s very welcome.”
Extensions to vehicle maintenance garages approved (231143)
Members of the planning committee approved the council’s own plan to increase space at its commercial depot in Bennet Road, Whitley.
The project was approved unanimously.
It involves raising the roof line of three garage units to allow taller vehicles to be serviced.
Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey), supporting the project, said the increased space assists the council in the electrification of its vehicles and provides crucial space for these vehicles to be maintained.
Temporary car park in Coley retained (231037)
A temporary car park in Lesford Road, Coley has been retained to allow residents’ cars that have been displaced by the regeneration of the area to remain.
The car park has 11 spaces, enabling people to park while 46 homes and renovation work takes place on the Wensley Court, Riversley Court and Irving Court towers.
It is accessed through Wensley Road, with drivers leaving via Lesford Road.
The temporary car park will be retained for 18 months, with councillors approving its retention unanimously.
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