Would Reading bid for City status in 2022?

[OLDMAN]

So you missed The Berkshire Motor Show that took place at Prospect Park?

Just for your diary its on 3rd July next year - that's if your still here!

There are many more shows etc in / around Reading if you take the time to look them up

As for Gunwharf Keyes it is just an expensive shopping centre these days

[ash]

Agreed, Portsmouth city centre is an absolute mess and hasn't changed in years. Gunwharf Quays has played a part in the death of Portsmouth city centre, and this trend is common wherever you have an out-of-town shopping centre (Swindon, Portsmouth). A lot of town and city centres around the country are looking very tired and run down. But in general, Reading hasn't suffered this, Reading has a bustling and busy centre.

Plymouth was indeed heavily bombed during the war, and the new city centre was built almost from scratch. But since then, the place needs a complete regeneration, this has been spoken about for decades, but little/no action has been taken. The place is stagnant, and has been left behind. In the meantime, places like Bracknell have had their brutalist town centre completely rebuilt. The fact is that Plymouth (and many other towns/cities) lacks investment. Berkshire, on the other hand, has no problem with attracting investment.

[ChipbuttyG]

So you missed The Berkshire Motor Show that took place at Prospect Park?

Just for your diary its on 3rd July next year - that's if your still here!

There are many more shows etc in / around Reading if you take the time to look them up

As for Gunwharf Keyes it is just an expensive shopping centre these days

Does the Berkshire motor show at Prospect park take place once a month?

[ChipbuttyG]

Agreed, Portsmouth city centre is an absolute mess and hasn't changed in years. Gunwharf Quays has played a part in the death of Portsmouth city centre, and this trend is common wherever you have an out-of-town shopping centre (Swindon, Portsmouth). A lot of town and city centres around the country are looking very tired and run down. But in general, Reading hasn't suffered this, Reading has a bustling and busy centre.

Plymouth was indeed heavily bombed during the war, and the new city centre was built almost from scratch. But since then, the place needs a complete regeneration, this has been spoken about for decades, but little/no action has been taken. The place is stagnant, and has been left behind. In the meantime, places like Bracknell have had their brutalist town centre completely rebuilt. The fact is that Plymouth (and many other towns/cities) lacks investment. Berkshire, on the other hand, has no problem with attracting investment.

Reading is definitely tired and run down, except the Oracle. I was there this morning. 'Orrible.

[ash]

So you missed The Berkshire Motor Show that took place at Prospect Park?

Just for your diary its on 3rd July next year - that's if your still here!

There are many more shows etc in / around Reading if you take the time to look them up

As for Gunwharf Keyes it is just an expensive shopping centre these days

Yes agreed! Lots going on in Reading for locals, if you research things, it is actually great!

[OLDMAN]

So you missed The Berkshire Motor Show that took place at Prospect Park?

Just for your diary its on 3rd July next year - that's if your still here!

There are many more shows etc in / around Reading if you take the time to look them up

As for Gunwharf Keyes it is just an expensive shopping centre these days

Does the Berkshire motor show at Prospect park take place once a month?

No but neither do most organised shows – you may be getting mistaken with car or bike ‘meets’ where they gather for a get together – they often turn into small shows in themselves, and yes there are few about in / around Reading but you need to be interested to know about them unless lucky to catch one in passing

[ChipbuttyG]

So you missed The Berkshire Motor Show that took place at Prospect Park?

Just for your diary its on 3rd July next year - that's if your still here!

There are many more shows etc in / around Reading if you take the time to look them up

As for Gunwharf Keyes it is just an expensive shopping centre these days

Yes agreed! Lots going on in Reading for locals, if you research things, it is actually great!

Yes. We have the carnival. Lovely to get high off the fumes.

[OLDMAN]

I’ve been many times and its never like that

Even been to Notting Hill and that was the same

[windrush]

Ah Chipbutty, your postings do brighten my days as no matter what problems I have in my everyday life they pale into insignificance compared to yours and I realise that actually I'm not so badly off after all.

Pete.

[Voiceoftreason?]

Ah Chipbutty, your postings do brighten my days as no matter what problems I have in my everyday life they pale into insignificance compared to yours and I realise that actually I'm not so badly off after all.

Pete.

[mikejee]

Yes. It must be so sad to be so encumbered with these thoughts and worries. It reminds me of Sir Peter Bottomley and his worries:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/p ... 33668.html

[ChipbuttyG]

I’ve been many times and its never like that

Even been to Notting Hill and that was the same

Yes - and Reading's car parking isn't expensive.

[ChipbuttyG]

Ah Chipbutty, your postings do brighten my days as no matter what problems I have in my everyday life they pale into insignificance compared to yours and I realise that actually I'm not so badly off after all.

Pete.

Cheers Windy!

[windrush]

Ah Chipbutty, your postings do brighten my days as no matter what problems I have in my everyday life they pale into insignificance compared to yours and I realise that actually I'm not so badly off after all.

Pete.

Cheers Windy!

You are welcome sir, please keep it up.

Pete.

[bert]

Our 38 rivals have been announced! Some good competition in there, I wonder how many 'winners' they'll announce?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59758549

"However, Paul Swinney, research director at the Centre for Cities think tank, told the BBC that, while city status may well be important for civic pride, it was important not to overstate its impact.

"While Reading is a town in the Queen's eyes, from an economy perspective it is very much a city already," he added."

[mikejee]

As I have made clear I consider the whole thing, as it now is presented, a useless political show . However the recent list is ridiculous. Stanley in the Falkland Islands , Newport & Carisbrook ? Yet Guildford, which is a large town and DOES have a cathedral has to apply. "South Ayrshire" ?? Possibly West Berkshire should apply. It is all a load of bullXXXX, used by politicians to polish their image when the money should be used for something useful.

[piwacket]

Our 38 rivals have been announced! Some good competition in there, I wonder how many 'winners' they'll announce?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59758549

"However, Paul Swinney, research director at the Centre for Cities think tank, told the BBC that, while city status may well be important for civic pride, it was important not to overstate its impact.

"While Reading is a town in the Queen's eyes, from an economy perspective it is very much a city already," he added."

I’m surprised that Bath and Gloucester are not already Cities - especially the former

[lizwing]

Gloucester is a city Pi, it’s a dump but it’s a city!

[windrush]

I will be amazed if Bolsover ('Boazer' to locals) gets voted as a city, apart from the castle which is visible for miles around especially from the M1 and Dennis Skinner there isn't a lot happening there since the Coalite plant closed down many years ago and it also lost its rail link before then? Nothing ventured, nothing gained I suppose.

Pete.

[D5equj5]

Reading could legally just call itself a city, I think ...

[Hooped]

Bath is also a city.

[piwacket]

I can’t remember where I saw them listed - it wasn’t on Bert’s link above
Some rogue reporter ….?

[ash]

I can’t remember where I saw them listed - it wasn’t on Bert’s link above
Some rogue reporter ….?

I think you might have seen them listed because both Bath and Gloucester have applied for the Lord Provost/Lord Mayor status, which is also being awarded alongside city status in 2022

[piwacket]

I can’t remember where I saw them listed - it wasn’t on Bert’s link above
Some rogue reporter ….?

I think you might have seen them listed because both Bath and Gloucester have applied for the Lord Provost/Lord Mayor status, which is also being awarded alongside city status in 2022

You may well be right!

[ChipbuttyG]

Gloucester is a city Pi, it’s a dump but it’s a city!

I visited Gloucester last year. I thought Gloucester Quays was very nice. The top end of town seemed a bit of a dump.

[lizwing]

Absolutely right Chip, The old part of the city is awful, badly knocked about in the 60s, there are still a few historical buildings that survived, around the Cathedral and some tucked away but mostly it’s horrible, I’m afraid the first time we went in after we moved here my OH’s reaction was that it was like the worst bits of Reading. The Quays area is nice, lots of very good places to eat and very attractive waterfront with interesting boats etc. It’s like two completely different cities. We prefer Cheltenham.

[D5equj5]

I wrote to Alok Sharma recently to try to persuade him to oppose the RBC City bid. Sadly though he has already voted FOR the scheme although he said he did read my letter with interest.

[mikejee]

"Read with interest" is a standard phrase automatically added by the word-processing programs of politicians to letters to their constiturnts

[ChipbuttyG]

Absolutely right Chip, The old part of the city is awful, badly knocked about in the 60s, there are still a few historical buildings that survived, around the Cathedral and some tucked away but mostly it’s horrible, I’m afraid the first time we went in after we moved here my OH’s reaction was that it was like the worst bits of Reading. The Quays area is nice, lots of very good places to eat and very attractive waterfront with interesting boats etc. It’s like two completely different cities. We prefer Cheltenham.

Yes, it's a shame as there are some lovely building in the older part of the town too. It really could do with some investment. Where the old Regal Cinema is (now a Wetherspoons), I think they are actually investing some money in that square. It was all fenced off when we were there.

[lizwing]

Yes they are, we don’t go in often enough to see how it’s getting on but it’s a massive project, sadly it’ll probably end up full of rough sleepers and yobs. The Debenhams premises have been bought by the University and are being converted into student accommodation which will change that area completely.

[BOY RACER]

Under the present climate does anyone really care any more

[Voiceoftreason?]

Under the present climate does anyone really care any more

Makes you wonder whose going to live in the hundreds of apartments and flats they’ve been building the last few years. Likewise what will happen to the tall office buildings in Reading - will they ever come into full use Es a big John Lewis, I think it is, standing empty somewhere I read about. They’re going to spend £100,000 on wrapping the building up to hide it from sight whilst they decide what to do with it.

That’s not a great use of the money, is it.

[Pooneil]

Under the present climate does anyone really care any more

Makes you wonder whose going to live in the hundreds of apartments and flats they’ve been building the last few years.

From a House of Commons library briefing document published last January "Estimates have put the number of new homes needed in England at up to 345,000 per year, accounting for new household formation and a backlog of existing need for suitable housing. In 2019/20, the total housing stock in England increased by around 244,000 homes. This around 1% higher than the year before – and the amount of new homes supplied annually has been growing for several years – but is still lower than estimated need... The Conservative Government elected in December 2019 included a manifesto pledge to “continue to increase the number of homes being built” and referred to a need to rebalance the housing market towards more home ownership: " …we will continue our progress towards our target of 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. This will see us build at least a million more homes, of all tenures, over the next Parliament – in the areas." " The need for more housing has been documented in numerous reports over the last decade.

Likewise what will happen to the tall office buildings in Reading - will they ever come into full use Es a big John Lewis, I think it is, standing empty somewhere I read about. They’re going to spend £100,000 on wrapping the building up to hide it from sight whilst they decide what to do with it.

That’s not a great use of the money, is it.

The John Lewis is in Sheffield.

[Voiceoftreason?]

That’s the one. I read so much, at such speed, I don’t always register the source. Thanks.

[Pooneil]

That’s the one. I read so much, at such speed, I don’t always register the source. Thanks.

No worries - I quite often do the same myself!