Campaign to revitalise riverside in Reading - ideas so far

Campaigners who successfully opposed a controversial segregated bus, cycle and walking route along the Thames riverside are now looking for ideas to revamp the pathway.

The area which campaigners are looking to improve is roughly from the Tesco, on Napier Road, to the Wokingham Waterside Centre but also includes a small part of the River Kennet.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO READING'S RIVERSIDE? Send in your ideas here 

Save Our Ancient Riverside (SOAR) campaigned against the East Reading Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) scheme, which was rejected by Wokingham Borough Council twice last year.

It was then withdrawn by Reading Borough Council (RBC) in January.

The now-shelved plan for the MRT.

READ AGAIN: 'Lipstick on a pig' - campaigning against the riverside MRT plan 

The campaigners are now focusing on how Reading’s ‘wildlife corridor’ can be improved.

Residents and councillors joined SOAR at Kennet Mouth, by the Horseshoe Bridge, on Saturday, May 11.

Wokingham councillors Shirley Boyt, Andy Croy and Carl Doran were joined by RBC councillors Tony Page, Mohammed Ayub, Karen Rowland, Brenda McGonigle and Josh Williams.

Ideas generated include:

• A mural on the Horseshoe Bridge
• History and information boards
• Preserving and restoring Kennet Mouth mosaic and plaque and cleaning up the area around it
• Segregated cycle/pedestrian paths
• Picnic areas, toilets and a café
• Benches and bins
• A city farm

One contributor even suggested a ‘Clooney Bridge’, though it is not entirely clear what this would be.

Following Saturday’s idea-gathering event, SOAR will host a public meeting in autumn, presenting the ‘feasible ideas which gathered the most enthusiasm’, before beginning the process of how to instigate them.

The campaign group will then seek approval from landowners for a shortlist of ideas.

Landowners of the riverside land between Wokingham and Reading include RBC, Wokingham Borough Council, Network Rail, the University of Reading and Tesco.

The group would then look to raise funding through various channels.

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport at RBC, has suggested using the plans the council had developed to mitigate the environmental impact of the MRT, such as softening the riverbank and installing moorings.

These were already backed by the Environment Agency as part of the MRT scheme.

To submit your ideas to the group visit https://padlet.com/newtchaser/Kennetmouth

From Hilary Smart

What is your response?What about an "outdoor classroom" (a wooden structure with open walls) set up somewhere with suitable access, to be made available to local primary schools and community groups to take. Art, geography, sport are obvious things that could be done using this as a base, but even taking an English or maths class outside would be doable and have benefits. There are several obvious problems such as - preventing graffiti (unless there is a locked fence around the structure, which removes part of the land from the rest of the community and increases the logistical effort) - river safety (though I often see school groups on Christchurch meadows) - logistics of getting classes there - would anyone actually use it? But I thought it worth suggesting because if it could be made to work it could bring a lot of joy to a lot of children.

From Clare Buchta

What is your response?More trees please

Your pictures

More trees please

From Sarah Bascombe-McCarthy

What is your response?The stretch of grassland next to the river in the Thames Valley Park area is entirely covered in dog excrement. It is not a pleasant place to take children for this reason. I believe this should be dealt with before any money-making regeneration scheme is begun. People who use public spaces as toilets for their animals should be fined heavily.

From David Provins

What is your response?This area should handed over to a Community Group. Already in the area we have a number of such groups that are a tremendous success. They offer a great social opportunity to bring people together. The main benefit is that they can operate at no cost to the tax payer. The results can be rewarding for every one as local people take pride in the work they do. It's a no brainier !

Your pictures

This area should handed over to a Community Group. Already in the area we have a number of such groups that are a tremendous success. They offer a great social opportunity to bring people together. The main benefit is that they can operate at no cost to the tax payer. The results can be rewarding for every one as local people take pride in the work they do. It's a no brainier !