News

Reading Vegan Festival is a not for profit event that will take place on Saturday 23 September in the centre of town (Town Hall Square and the Market Place). The event is a chance to share information about a vegan lifestyle with workshops, talks, information stalls and traders selling food, drinks, clothing, cosmetics, toiletries and more. 

We're also running a Crowdfunding campaign to ensure the festival is as successful as possible - with a good range of speakers, workshops and we are able to promote as widely as possible. 

Please like our event on Facebook, share as widely as possible, join our volunteers group if you would like to help out at the event and join our Crowdfunding campaign if you feel able to support our event! 

Community group Reading Hydro has received planning permission to install two water turbines at Caversham Weir. We expect to begin construction early next year.

The hydro turbines are expected to generate about 380 MWh of electricity each year, enough for 100 average homes. This will prevent 150 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year, and help Reading play its part in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. What's more, during construction we'll adapt the weir to make it a better home for wildlife, by installing a new natural fish pass also suited to eel and lamprey.

Reading Hydro is a Community Benefit Society, which is a business run democratically by its members for the benefit of the whole community. Part of the profit from the scheme will go to a community fund, and we hope to raise much of the investment by a community share offer later this year.

Anne Wheldon, a director of Reading Hydro CBS, said: "This is a huge step forward towards having hydro generation at the heart of our community. Reading is a wonderful town and it’ll be great to contribute to that with our community fund and by improving the town's carbon footprint. But now it’s all hands on deck, so I’d encourage everyone to become a member of Reading Hydro".

Tom Youngman, a member of Reading Hydro CBS, said: "I paid my £1 to become a member of Reading Hydro two months ago and it's been really great to contribute to such an important community project. I would encourage everyone to take part. You don't need to know anything about hydropower, if you think the project’s a good idea it's easy to get stuck in."

Contact

Anne Wheldon (Director, Reading Hydro CBS)

0791 391 3997    anne@w-b.org.uk 

Notes

-          Reading Hydro CBS was incorporated on 12 Oct 2015

-          The planning application has the reference number 151715.

-          Planning permission was granted on 17/05/2017

In 2013 the Reading Climate Change Partnership (RCCP) launched its climate change strategy: ‘Reading Means Business on Climate Change’. Produced in partnership with a range of key stakeholders, the strategy outlines Reading’s response to climate change.

It was agreed that the strategy would be reviewed and updated at its mid-point in 2016/17. RCCP are now seeking your comments on the strategy and action plans as part of this review. The consultation opens on Monday 15th May and runs to 26th June.

You can view draft versions of the strategy and action plans through the Reading Borough Council Citizen Space area on the link.

This link also provides more details on the consultation and offers you the opportunity to respond. The strategy has eight ‘Themes’ – ranging from energy supply to education via nature and water – you don’t have to read all of it if you don’t want to!