Plans to reconnect historic Reading town centre released

[Melchett]

Let's hope it includes plans for some leisure facilities. An ice rink or a bowling alley perhaps?

[Voiceoftreason?]

Supposed to be an ice rink at Royal Elm Park, if it ever gets off the ground.

[piwacket]

Supposed to be an ice rink at Royal Elm Park, if it ever gets off the ground.

... elevated ice rink, the jumps should be good

[Voiceoftreason?]

Lol - very quick. That new bed of yours must be doing you a power of good.

[johnH]

Reading Borough Council – Chance to comment on the Draft Hosier Street Area Development Framework


Two exhibitions will be held at the Hexagon Theatre where Council officers will be available to explain and discuss the proposals:

Tuesday 31st July 2018 between 3:00 and 7:00
Wednesday 5th September 2018 between 3:00 and 7:00 .

[peterson]

There's another chance to see the plans and talk to councillors and planners this Wednesday (5th) from 3pm till 7pm. This was my take from the first viewing: http://readingonthames.com/2018/09/02/h ... -st-plans/
Hope you manage to get along to it...

[ash]

There's another chance to see the plans and talk to councillors and planners this Wednesday (5th) from 3pm till 7pm. This was my take from the first viewing: http://readingonthames.com/2018/09/02/h ... -st-plans/
Hope you manage to get along to it...

A nice article to read, as usual. Thank you. I like the idea of using the entire podium spaces for larger units. This sort of arrangement is also seen in Chatham place, with the elevated private gardens for residents.

[D6equj5]

A good read.
Nice one.

[MickEdge]

Thanks, peterson. You make some good points. I find it hard to get my head around it all, and imagine what it will or should look like. I’m just afraid it might turn out like the hotch-pot around the station. I saw an original photo of the station recently and I realised how the grandeur of it has been swallowed up by the modern buildings, none of which complement each other at all. Reading does need to get it right, else it’ll turn into a dormitory and office town and not much else.

I notice at the bottom your article the Caversham Park house photo and thought how grand it is. It looked kind of Egyptian to me.

[lizwing]

More likely influenced by Greek architecture Mick, not far off.

[peterson]

thanks all.

On Caversham Park, I note it's "under offer". No idea who to.
https://www.lsh.co.uk/commercial-proper ... currency=1

[MickEdge]

thanks all.

On Caversham Park, I note it's "under offer". No idea who to.
https://www.lsh.co.uk/commercial-proper ... currency=1

It said that a while ago and then it disappeared. Let’s hope they’ve found someone worthy of it.

[MickEdge]

More likely influenced by Greek architecture Mick, not far off.

This is what it reminded me of. Bit of a stretch, I know:

Just read peterson’s idea for a cable-car across the Thames, from Caversham Park. That’s the kind of thinking we need for the town centre, from the planners. He also makes a good point about how Reading could lose out to London, as the newer high tech companies are being drawn there. This is always going to be a problem for Reading, maybe it always has.

The town centre got a new lease of life when the Oracle was built and drew people in. The online shopping change and other local towns redeveloping is a challenge. Getting the transport right and improving the cultural and leisure offering is crucial. Cafes and apartments, however well designed aren’t enough. I’m just afraid the money available will be drawn to a quick return, and I’m not sure the council have the power to stop it.

[piwacket]

It’s some considerable time since I’ve had occasion to drive across town - and the journey back via Vastern Rd and round into Forbury Rd, which we did yesterday. That monstrosity of a Storage place on Caversham Rd -phwoar! Then turning into Forbury Rd, the SSE building as a stand alone piece is attractive in a sort of in-yer-face building - the various half built mini skyscrapers like big teeth and then the ‘new’ Kings Point building .... in the middle distance a few old buildings completely dwarfed by it.... conclusion - glad we have no real need to make that journey often!

[dave m]

The storage place on caversham road?
That's been there (the building) since the mid 70's.
It was the original Comet building

[piwacket]

The storage place on caversham road?

I don't remember it being bright red, that's all

[piwacket]

The storage place on caversham road?

I don't remember it being bright red, that's all

[OLDMAN]

The storage place on caversham road?

I don't remember it being bright red, that's all

It’s been a sort of maroon colour (I wouldn’t call it bright red) since Shurgard took the building on and converted it

And that’s been about 10yrs now

[piwacket]

It’s been a sort of maroon colour (I wouldn’t call it bright red) since Shurgard took the building on and converted it
And that’s been about 10yrs now

I'm not denying the building was there - just the dramatic colour was a bit of a shock!

[OLDMAN]

It’s been a sort of maroon colour (I wouldn’t call it bright red) since Shurgard took the building on and converted it
And that’s been about 10yrs now

I'm not denying the building was there - just the dramatic colour was a bit of a shock!

But as I said, its been that colour for about 10yrs now?

The image I added is from GSV in 2007 (it was the brightest one as sun was out) - it goes back to 2009 in that colour on there

[piwacket]

OK not so glaring in the evenings when going to Cozze ....

[MickEdge]

Beauty, ugliness and colour are in the eye of the beholder, and there’s plenty of ugliness in that part of Caversham Rd.

[peterson]

you're not going mad.. the Shurgard building has been repainted a very bright red within the last year. It no longer looks like that photo.

Of all the buildings/plots actually worth turning into flats, this would be one of them! I mean really, what is long term storage adding to the town centre! This kind of thing should be provided out of town - people need vans to drive to them anyway.

[piwacket]

But as I said, its been that colour for about 10yrs now?

you're not going mad.. the Shurgard building has been repainted a very bright red within the last year. It no longer looks like that photo.

Of all the buildings/plots actually worth turning into flats, this would be one of them! I mean really, what is long term storage adding to the town centre! This kind of thing should be provided out of town - people need vans to drive to them anyway.

thanks Peterson.... and I agree with your thinking - a waste of valuable space.

[dave m]

Depends on the lease that sureguard have on the building.
There is a large warehouse behind it, the owners will no doubt have their eye on the old Royal Mail site and make a move once the area becomes more residential. Possibly demolish the whole thing or build a second building as an "extension" if it made planning easier

[OLDMAN]

you're not going mad.. the Shurgard building has been repainted a very bright red within the last year. It no longer looks like that photo.

Of all the buildings/plots actually worth turning into flats, this would be one of them! I mean really, what is long term storage adding to the town centre! This kind of thing should be provided out of town - people need vans to drive to them anyway.

Ah didn't know that - its been the maroon colour for 12yrs, as that's when they bought / sorted that building and opened

And was still like it last September as we had stuff in there (sorted by the insurance company) but not been that way since

Edit to add - not everyone uses vans to get there, they have some small lockers at 10sqft and high value ones that are smaller, bit like safes - that's what we had stuff in

[piwacket]

you're not going mad.. the Shurgard building has been repainted a very bright red within the last year. It no longer looks like that photo.

Of all the buildings/plots actually worth turning into flats, this would be one of them! I mean really, what is long term storage adding to the town centre! This kind of thing should be provided out of town - people need vans to drive to them anyway.

Ah didn't know that - its been the maroon colour for 12yrs, as that's when they bought / sorted that building and opened

And was still like it last September as we had stuff in there (sorted by the insurance company) but not been that way since

Ah! so is that an apology? - it wasn't last September I saw it, but 3 days ago.

[Yola]

I drive past that pretty well every day. I had never seen this building in anything other than maroon. Tomorrow I’ll pay attention!

[OneGorman]

The storage place on caversham road?

I don't remember it being bright red, that's all

They only painted it the bright red it is told several months ago.

[OLDMAN]

Went down that way to visit the Range so got to have a look – it has been repainted but more a brick red colour since I last saw it, but don’t think it’s that bright,

Might be if the sun was on it

But did notice they have painted most of the lower section where the name etc is in a large white block so less ‘red’ than before