It took all my powers of self restraint not to entitle this post “Reading the future”, but that’s the gist – as 2016 gets underway, what might the year hold in store for the town? If a town could write itself some new year’s resolutions then I’d hope to see the following amongst them.
The Broad Street Mall was purchased by new owners in May 2015. Since then we’ve heard nothing of their plans for the site. That is until this month when a planning application has been submitted to the council. Sadly the limit of the ambition, at this stage at least, is to re-brand the signs on each of the entrances to the mall. So let’s take this opportunity to give the new owners some ideas on how they could bring vast improvements to this part of Reading, and potentially make some money along the way. Continue reading “FAO the Broad Street Mall’s new owners”
Where is the centre of any town or city? In my experience, most frequently, people associate with an urban public open space that acts as the main focal point for local civic life. Continue reading “Where is the Square?”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
At a meeting next week, Reading Borough council will discuss the future of theatre provision in the town. Below is the key paragraph from the paper they will discuss: Continue reading “Hexagons, Headaches, and why the answer is Hills Meadow”
The Holy Brook, one of Reading’s most fascinating features, is a loop off the Kennet that runs from Theale, through central Reading into the Abbey Backwater near the ruins and the prison. Possibly man-made in places, the brook meanders serenely through the town centre, making appearances here and there, whilst disappearing beneath buildings for much of its journey. One intrepid schoolmate of mine claimed to have canoed the full length, much of it bent double in darkness under those long enclosed sections. That sounds a bit frightening to me, but such a mission is slowly becoming easier.
This month the latest refinements to plans for a development on Gun Street have been submitted. The property is next door to the Purple Turtle bar and under the same ownership. Continue reading “Dining out on the Holy Brook”
Reading-on-Thames 