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Reading - Civic Area Redevelopment; Reading Borough Council offices to move?
Topic Started: 29 May 2012, 01:35 PM (1,727 Views)
daib0
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Reading Borough Council offices to move?


BBC News Reading

Reading Borough Council office move will 'affect trade'
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-18246807


Shop owners say they will lose trade if Reading Borough Council goes ahead with its multi-million pound plan to move offices. Councillors are expected to vote on Tuesday night to move from the Civic Centre to Plaza West in Bridge Street.

Deputy Leader Tony Page said not moving would be far more expensive than the relocation. But the manager of Broad Street Mall, Steve Fawke, said the current building acted as an "anchor" for local shops. He added: "We will survive, I have no doubt about that but the early days will be quite treacherous. I just think that the council have ignored or discounted the strategic impact of what could well damage the retail and commercial viability of that part of town."

Reading East MP Rob Wilson said the nature of the business at the shopping centre would change and jobs would be lost as a result. But Mr Page said the council had no option but to move from the Civic Centre which was in a poor condition. He said:
"Based on a best value for money option, which includes the price of purchasing the freehold of the respective buildings we are being recommended and we are looking to take forward the purchase of Plaza West in Bridge Street."


Previous news in January -

Talks start over new Civic Centre for Reading
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-16681086


Reading Borough Council has begun negotiations to relocate the Civic Centre to one of two locations in the town. The Berkshire authority says its current home in Castle Street is becoming expensive to maintain. A new civic centre could be located either in the Plaza West building in Bridge Street or RG2, the former Yell building, in Queen's Walk. A final decision will be made at a special council meeting in May.

The council has invited the owners of RG2 and Plaza West to present their offers during February. A spokesman said the council had needed a cost-effective replacement for the Civic Centre for some time. He said: "The building is at the end of its design life, which means it is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to maintain. The overall design is not conducive to easy access, particularly for people with disabilities, and the presence of asbestos, although carefully-managed by council staff and contractors and not currently a health risk, adds to the overall cost of maintenance and means the building cannot be occupied indefinitely."


So this building may not mean much in the future then - and what happens to 'Düsseldorf Way' then? I believe the final vote is TODAY!!


Reading Civic Centre

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Pea
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Joseph/Joe
The businesses, providing they are robust at the moment, will survive and whatever replaces the civic centre eventually will bring its own business to the area. The Council have to take steps to avoid wasting public money on unnecessary maintainence costs and this makes sense.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur
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Hayes
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Pea
29 May 2012, 03:36 PM
The businesses, providing they are robust at the moment, will survive and whatever replaces the civic centre eventually will bring its own business to the area. The Council have to take steps to avoid wasting public money on unnecessary maintainence costs and this makes sense.
I think this is Bo*****s,typical, council wants to waste our money moving to a plush new accomodation.This dont wash with me,let them make do where they are now,what does a lick of paint cost.
Edited by Hayes, 29 May 2012, 03:49 PM.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.readingfc.co.uk/?ref=bookmarks
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Pea
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Hayes
29 May 2012, 03:48 PM
Pea
29 May 2012, 03:36 PM
The businesses, providing they are robust at the moment, will survive and whatever replaces the civic centre eventually will bring its own business to the area. The Council have to take steps to avoid wasting public money on unnecessary maintainence costs and this makes sense.
I think this is Bo*****s,typical, council wants to waste our money moving to a plush new accomodation.This dont wash with me,let them make do where they are now,what does a lick of paint cost.
As someone who works in local government finance I can assure you that is not the case. Councils are scrabbling around for savings everywhere and anywhere they can this year, the funding given to local government by Central government doesn't allow for anyone to make a decision like you are suggesting. You'd be shocked to see how much money is wasted on substandard facilities and Councils are no realising this is completely unsustainable in the long term because the fundings simply not going to be there to cover the maintenance costs.

We've just had to demolish one of our buildings on campus so we can sell the land for development because it was costing so much money to run (would have cost £200k over the next three years) and completely not fit for purpose at the same time. The part of my building that everyone from there were relocated to is far cheaper to maintain but it was a massive issue simply finding the funding to afford a lick of paint in that part of the building.

There is still areas that local government needs to reform itself to stop wasting taxpayers money, 100%. But this has been, in my experience, one of the most sensible ways of cutting costs and building for the long term on substantially smaller budgets.
Edited by Pea, 29 May 2012, 04:10 PM.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur
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Hayes
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Just me being cynical Pea!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.readingfc.co.uk/?ref=bookmarks
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daib0
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In Spain there's quite a bit of talk of councils merging to save costs - like for example Wokingham & Bracknell, or Theale/Aldermaston coming under one roof. Mind you, there over half the 'town' councils are for villages with UNDER 500 population!
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daib0
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Reading announces civic area redevelopment plans

A couple of you hinted at this on RR, but I've now found proof!


BBC News - Berkshire

Plans to overhaul the Civic Offices area in Reading have been announced, with the council preparing a brochure to attract developers. The regeneration will follow the demolition of the mid-1970s Reading Borough Council building after staff move to nearby premises in 2014. Plans include a mix of new residential, commercial, retail, and leisure areas with a network of open spaces.

Council leader Jo Lovelock said a swift redevelopment was "essential". She added: "Obviously, re-development will not happen overnight so we will also be working on an interim plan for the site so that it will not be left as an eye-sore following demolition of the council offices."

Details of the interim plan have not been announced. But a primary aim is to integrate the nearby Hexagon Theatre "into the heart of the town centre". Other nearby buildings house Reading police station and the magistrates' court.

The council will move to nearby Plaza West in Bridge Street, Reading, at a cost of £59.6m, which was deemed the most cost-effective plan. A council spokesman said the current civic office building was "at the end of its design life". He added public access was difficult, "particularly for people with disabilities" and the non-risk "presence of asbestos" added to "the overall cost of maintenance". Council officers will be meeting with neighbouring landowners and organisations to get their views on the redevelopment.

The brochure is due to be published in early 2013.



So, attempts in the 60s/70s to house the centre of the town between the Butts and Coley areas seems to be coming unstuck now. Are you agreed with the proposed changes of location?

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daib0
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Related stories


Public showcase of station plans
14 JUNE 2012, BERKSHIRE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-18438771


Talks start over new Civic Centre
23 JANUARY 2012, BERKSHIRE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-16681086
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Hayes
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Found this now the subject has been brought up again.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.readingfc.co.uk/?ref=bookmarks
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daib0
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my bad, I should merge this with the new thread!
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