Accessible play facilities coming to schools across Reading have been approved.
Three schools in the town are set to benefit from new playtime equipment for pupils, with the equipment being specifically chosen to be accessible for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The projects to make changes to the play areas of the schools were approved at Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee meeting on Wednesday, April 30.
The committee granted an application from a fellow councillor to cut down two trees in their garden.
You can view applications featured by typing the reference in brackets into the council’s planning portal.
New play equipment for school in Oxford Road (PL/25/0291)
Oxford Road Community School is set to benefit from new equipment in its playground, including an adventure trail, a sunken trampoline, a climbing wall, a zig-zag twister and talking flowers.
Welcoming the news, councillor Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) said: “I think we all know how important play is for children, especially those with special educational needs.
“I’m delighted that this will be coming to my ward shortly to benefit the children of my area.”
Cllr Doug Cresswell (Green, Katesgrove) added: “I think this is wonderful and should be encouraged, more of the same, please!”
Play area upgrade for school in Whitley (PL/25/0292)
The Whitley Park Primary & Nursery School playground will have new equipment installed.
The playground for the school in Brixham Road will be getting an adventure trail, a sunken trampoline, a climbing wall and a ziz-zag twister.
Cllr Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) said: “This is very much an upgrade, very clearly an upgrade, there’s very little there now, and now there will be all this new equipment that students will be able to benefit from.”
New play area for school in Caversham (PL/25/0342)
A new play area is also set to be created at Thameside Primary School in Harley Road.
The playground will feature an in-ground trampoline, a birds nest swing, a rock ‘n’ bowl dish, a wobbly plank, a balance beam and a pick up sticks climbing frame.
Cllr Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) noted that the land was part of Samuel Elliot & Sons joinery and maulding works, before being handed over to the school.
Councillor wins permission to cut down trees in garden of home
A councillor has won permission to have two trees at her home cut down.
The house previously served as a home of multiple occupancy (HMO), with the garden of the house not being well-maintained.
The councillor applied to have a bay tree cut down to carry out necessary gutter and roof repairs, and cut down a conifer to the rear of the garden due to it having significant dead areas of foliage.
Because the application was submitted by a councillor, it had to be approved by their fellow councillors at the meeting.
The garden currently has 16 trees, leaving it with 14 trees once the work is complete.
