There’s a great deal of hype locally about Crossrail. Reading will act as a western terminus for the £15bn mega-project. But what will it provide for the people of Reading? Let’s take a look… Continue reading “Crossrail – the Reading perspective”
Month: November 2015
All Change for Swimming in Reading
Where’s the best place to swim in Reading? The answer, bluntly, is Bracknell. Our new-town neighbour boasts its eponymous leisure centre, with twin 25m pools for leisure and lane swimming, and a soon-to-be renovated fun and flume complex Coral Reef. Both are normally spotlessly maintained – I can never change without being hassled by a mop-wielding attendant whenever I visit. Continue reading “All Change for Swimming in Reading”
A Tale of Two Towers
After many years of talking, planning and re-planning, there’s finally a flurry of building activity around Reading station, as the town’s skyline continues its rapid evolution. The work is centred around Reading’s two office buildings bearing the word ‘Tower’ in their name: Western Tower and Thames Tower. The two, however, have met very different fates. Continue reading “A Tale of Two Towers”
The dilemma with no prisoners
Today it was announced that Reading Prison is to be sold for housing development. Progress on the prison disposal, following its closure two years ago is to be welcomed. However, in my view, most people in Reading had rather higher hopes for the historic building than a pure apartment conversion. Rob Wilson, Reading East MP, was on BBC Radio Berkshire’s Andrew Peach show this morning telling us that we should be “extraordinarily happy” at the prospect of some much-needed housing. It would be “extraordinary”, he continued, to question the idea. Well, I’ll have to take that as a compliment. Continue reading “The dilemma with no prisoners”
Zeroing in on the Dreadnought – defunct inn to have Reading’s biggest pub car park
Yesterday I visited the public exhibition organised by Wokingham council for a new park and ride site to the east of Reading. Continue reading “Zeroing in on the Dreadnought – defunct inn to have Reading’s biggest pub car park”
Reading-on-Thames 