LOUD music and fireworks have prompted residents in Reading to hit out at an unauthorised water sports centre in Caversham which opened last year.

Caversham Lakes, at North Lake in Henley Road, was opened more than a year ago by Cosmonaut Leisure without planning permission and has received both criticism and praise from residents.

A retrospective planning application for the change of use of the site was submitted in September 2020, a month after the venue, which has paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing and open water swimming, opened.

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A decision was due to be taken by South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) in May 2021 but has been delayed, with hundreds of letters sent in by residents either supporting or opposing the application.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) has submitted several letters of objection to the application, with concerns, including:

  • The lack of dedicated pedestrian paths between Henley Road and the site
  • The impact of increased traffic, with 500 visitors recorded on one day during the 2020 August bank holiday
  • The lack of street lighting

The latest concerns have come from RBC’s environment health team, which says it has received complaints from seven different residents on Henley Road about music and firework noise from the site this summer.

Ross Jarvis, senior environmental health officer at the council, said: “The music noise disturbance is alleged to regularly go on from early afternoon into the evening getting louder as the evening goes on until 11pm.

“We have also received complaints about fireworks being set off late in the evening.

“The Caversham Lakes website shows that the onsite bar opens daily until 10pm.

“I note that the venue is also being promoted for weddings and parties, as well as proposed events such as the Lakeside Festival planned for October 2 and 3.

“This points to an intention to use the site intensively for events that will include loud music.”

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Mr Jarvis said a noise assessment needs to be carried out and mitigation proposed prior to any permission being given.

Objections have also been sent in by Eye and Dunsden Parish Council, which raised concerns about the impact on wildlife, while Oxfordshire County Council has raised concerns about highway safety and the Environment Agency has asked for further assessment of the impact of the use on nature conversation.

But Caversham Lakes boss Martyn Edwards said the company has “invested, carried out and provided the council with everything necessary to cover all matters at considerable expense over the last year” in a letter to customers earlier this month.

He said the application is likely be rejected soon due to SODC officers informing him not enough information has been provided to support the application and no more information can now be submitted.

Mr Edwards said Cosmonaut Leisure intends to stay no matter the decision and will submit a further application if necessary and continue to work towards getting permission.