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Reading Enews – March 2008 Road closures The Forbury will be closed between 11.30pm and 5am, Monday 3 to Friday 7 March for carriageway repairs and drainage connections. It will then be closed for 24 hours on Sunday 9 March, for resurfacing. Reading Single Homeless Project Sleep Out Reading Single Homeless Project invites family and friends to sleep out under the stars on 25 April at the Madejski Stadium and be part of a fun event with a serious side. Join people from across Berkshire to raise vital funds and awareness by sleeping outside for just one night, helping break down walls between RSHP clients and a happier, more independent lifestyle. This year will be the 5th Annual Sleep Out, with the event raising a staggering £60,000 in the last four years, thanks to the efforts of over 300 people that have taken part. The event is open to everyone over the age of 14 (people aged between 14–16 must be accompanied by an adult) and will include a series of activities to help people understand the issues of homelessness. It will finish with a bedtime story – with a difference. To take part in the 2008 Sleep Out, simply email paul.mckenzie@rshp.co.uk with your name & address and you will receive an information pack in the post or by email. Once you are registered, you will receive your sponsorship pack and, nearer the time, full event information. Here are the thoughts of two well known personalities: Nicky Shorey (Reading FC and England Footballer) Kenneth Branagh (Oscar Nominated Director) “This is my third year supporting the Sleep Out. Sleeping Out in 2008 can give chances to people in Reading and surrounding areas who are lost with nowhere else to turn. RSHP is the first step to long term housing, health, education and self esteem for many people who have suffered from homelessness.” Inward investment Yell, the international directories business, has announced that it has signed a lease agreement for a new UK Head Office in a landmark building under construction in the centre of Reading. Yell will take 153,500 sq ft of office space over eight storeys in One Reading Central, the first new property in a substantial business campus being developed near the town’s main rail station. Around 1,350 Yell employees are scheduled to move into One Reading Central in summer 2010, in a relocation from two existing Reading town centre offices. Around 50 employees currently based at Yell premises in Slough, who have Head Office supporting jobs, will also relocate to One Reading Central. Tandy Engineering, the Gloucester-based mechanical and electrical engineering services firm with 30 staff, has been acquired by Facilitas Group of 250 South Oak Way, Lime Square, GreenPark. http://www.facilitasgroup.com The Prudential has let the ground floor of Kings Reach, Kings Road (6,698 sq.ft.) to 8el (Aggregated Telecoms) on the basis of a seven year sub lease at a rent of £21.16. Planning The Council’s Planning Applications Committee will receive Sackville’s planning application for Station Hill on 5 March. An application has been lodged on behalf of Starbucks Coffee Co (UK) Ltd for signage and a change of use from public highway to a temporary outdoor seating area at 1 Butter Market and 6 King Street (ex Essentuals Hair)(Starbucks are currently fitting out). The application for signage at 30 West Street (Ex FOPP) – by Somerfield Stores – has been permitted. Market Place Development Ltd of Brook Henderson House has withdrawn its application to refurbish and revitalise the retail area around the Coopers Arms, at 27–32 Market Place. Oxford Road transport study Reading Borough Council is seeking views on transport issues and opportunities in the Oxford Road area to inform a study on how congestion, access and road safety problems in the area can be tackled. As the Reading Station project includes proposals to shut the northern Cow Lane Bridge and replace this with a new road to the north of the railway line (between Scours Lane and Cow Lane), there is an opportunity to divert some commercial and through traffic along this 'Relief Road' and ease congestion along the Oxford Road. Reading Borough Council wants to take advantage of this opportunity but to do so effectively, needs to know what local people want. Therefore, leaflet/questionnaires will be delivered to addresses throughout the area and will be available online at www.reading.gov.uk, under the Consultation and Transport & Streets sections. Three exhibitions will also be held for the public to discuss their views with Council officers: Weds 12 March 2008 at Bridge Hall, Oxford Road, 11am to 5pm Mon 17 March 2008 at Battle Library, 2pm to 8pm Tues 18 March 2008 at St Mary Magdalen Church Hall, Oxford Road and Rodway Road, 1pm to 7pm Cycling strategy A new cycling strategy for Reading has been created, which aims
to encourage more people to take up cycling by making it easier to
get around the town by bike. Whether pedal-power is already your
chosen form of transport, or you still need some convincing before
switching to two wheels, Reading Borough Council is encouraging people
to take some time to look at the new Cycling Strategy and come forward
with their views. The Strategy is available for download at: www.reading.gov.uk/transportandstreets If you have any comments on the Strategy, please complete the contact form attached to this web page. The closing date for comments is 14 March 2008. Retail September’s enews reported that Reading has risen to an impressive tenth in Verdict Research’s ‘Top 20’, part of its UK Town Centre Retailing 2007 report. CACI rankings of (October 2007) now show Reading as 9th in the UK. Glo (restaurant) are fitting out at 62 St Mary's Butts. The ex-Fat Face unit in Cross Street has been taken on by Graham and Green, who sell "exceptional interiors, accessories and gifts". The Oracle Brother 2 Brother boys and menswear is now fitting out the unit next to Hotel Chocolat. Body Shop is fitting out in the old Montserrat unit opposite Boots. New Look has re-opened after its refit Dolcis has been bought by Barratts Sylo and will trade as Dolcis to clear old stock before re-branding as Barratts. ...In the footsteps of Henry Taunt Henry Taunt was one of Victorian England’s most prolific photographers. His maps and guides, illustrated by beautiful photographs of the Thames, played a major role in developing the Victorians’ love of the river. Digital photographers Jeff Robins and Graham Diprose were inspired by Taunt’s first photographic guides to the river, and set out to recapture many of his finest views of the Thames. This exhibition combines Taunt’s images with their modern equivalents to make fascinating ‘then and now’ views over the last 125 years. For full details, including opening hours, see www.readingmuseum.org.uk Ancient
Egypt: Reading’s
Egyptology collection Amazing treasures from the museum’s Egyptology collection are on display for the first time in many years in our Ancient Egypt exhibition. The exhibition illustrates aspects of life and death in Ancient Egypt and includes complementary objects loaned by the British Museum and, from Birmingham Museum, the mummy of Namenkhet-Amun. Tim Smith This newsletter
is for general information only. Whilst it is
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