AN ANGRY woman accused Reading University of ‘lecturing’ the community and not allowing them to speak at a public meeting.

The university held a community forum at the Pavilion on Oxford Road on Tuesday night where around 60 people gathered to hear about its action plan for 2023-2026.

The Russell Group establishment, ranked 34 in The Sunday Times’ university league, has set out proposals to get the local community involved with the university.

But after more than an hour of talks by Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Van de Noort, Community Engagement Manager Molli Cleaver, and a spokesperson for Friends of the University, frustrations surfaced from a heckler.

A woman, whose name is not known, stood up and shouted: “When are you going to listen to us? You have been lecturing for an hour.”

The audience, made up of charity workers, NHS staff, and members of the local community, fell completely silent as she continued to say: “I am a member of the community! When will you listen to us!”

She then stormed out of the theatre hall in frustration.

Molli Cleaver went out after the woman to speak to her while each table was tasked with commenting on one element of the university’s action plan.

The university says it wants to offer free building tours to the public, work more closely with kids in the area, and encourage staff and students to volunteer at local organisations.

A charity worker said they wanted to see the university take a more proactive approach. They said: “We have a difference in resources. Many of us [here] are charities with little funding, whereas the university has a lot of money.

“We are already stretched so thin, so they should create a channel for contact rather than saying if you want it, you do it.”

Another person said: “Why not have an information board in the town centre to see what’s going on at the university?”

A further person questioned if the university could open its clubs and societies to local children and teenagers and do more outreach in deprived areas of Reading.