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Reading Prison; latest news on the old Reading prison buildings
Topic Started: 4 Sep 2013, 09:24 AM (5,623 Views)
Hayes
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After 169 years,the prison next to the forbury is to close.The Jail that once interned the great Oscar Wilde is to be demolished but nothing is yet planned to be put in its place,a bit like Kebe going to Palace then ;)

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SuffolkRoyal
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Despite what the POA say, Reading prison was not cost effective. It had minimal cellular accommodation and, as an old victorian prison, was very expensive to maintain. But that it is, allegedly, costing £20k per month for a closed prison makes no economic sense whatsoever.

Oxford prison, which is much older, was turned into a luxury hotel so if the government get their skates on, they could make some serious money by selling the old Reading site.
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daib0
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recuperation of this thread!



Get Reading


Reading Prison petition for site to be freed by MoJ reaches 500 signatures

Reading Labour Party launched the petition after learning the MoJ was moth balling the prison site


Pictures in this link, with sub-galleries too ...

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-prison-petition-site-freed-10233766



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SuffolkRoyal
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Last I heard was a rumour that they were planning to re-open it.

But one thing you can always be certain of, the MoJ don't do 'hurry'.
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daib0
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Get Reading


Taxpayers spend more than £250,000 on utilities for empty Reading Prison

HM Prison Reading has not housed a convicted criminal since November 2013

Hundreds of thousands of pounds has been spent on keeping the lights on and water running at the empty Reading Prison since the last inmate left. HM Prison Reading has not housed a convicted criminal since November 2013 and it was formally closed by statutory instrument on Wednesday, January 31 in 2014. But a Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has spent £273,849.36 on utility bills between 2013 and 2015.

In 2013/14 MoJ forked out £216,535.25 for water and sewage, gas and electricity. In the FOI response the MoJ stated:
"On Monday 9 November 2015 the Treasury announced nine new prisons were to be built and that the former HMP Reading would be sold for housing. The MOJ has engaged with the local authorities and others such as the Homes and Communities Agency and Historic England and discussed with them the future options for the site. The level of heating, maintenance and security at HMP Reading has been reduced to a level which is appropriate for a closed prison. Parts of the prison are listed and a level of background heating is required to protect them from damp, frost and rapid deterioration."

The prison was set to be mothballed as a contingency for the prison service last year, but the chancellor George Osborne and justice minister Michael Gove then made the announcement the jail was to be sold.

Reading MP Rob Wilson has also revealed that up to 300 homes could be built on the site.


Extra graphs and stats here: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/taxpayers-spend-more-250000-utilities-11064551?ptnr_rid=148820&icid=EM_GetReading_Nletter_MorningNews_News_largeteaser_Text_Story1
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SuffolkRoyal
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It's par for the course where old, empty, prisons are concerned daib0. They can stand empty for years until a decision is made what to do with them. And as wasteful as it might sound, they have to maintain the basics just in case there was a sudden need to reopen it, if only on a temporary basis.
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Owlish52
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RR Foreign Legion - Across the Pond - View from Texas
I expect a pending announcement of a new acquisition of the Reading prison by an overseas investor - possibly a Chinese firm. After all, it's almost April 1st and they used a Texan last time...
Edited by Owlish52, 21 Mar 2016, 10:01 AM.
"It could have been worse with Hillary..." - Owlish52
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SuffolkRoyal
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You'd like Reading prison Bill, its a fascinating old building. I worked there for eight years during 70's/80's.
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Owlish52
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RR Foreign Legion - Across the Pond - View from Texas
I'm sure you're right :thumbsup: - the photos I've seen were very interesting, and the history is awesome.
"It could have been worse with Hillary..." - Owlish52
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daib0
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BBC Berkshire ‏@BBCBerkshire

Reading's empty prison will be made available to use as a venue as part of the town's Year of Culture.
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Cello man... VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEVmGOEMJLE&t=12s Please share !
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SuffolkRoyal
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I'm not quite sure what the 'towns year of culture' is all about, bit if it opens up the doors of the old prison, for the public to have a look round, it would be well worth a visit. I think local people would find it fascinating. It's a place that everyone will have driven past over the years, but never had the opportunity to look inside.
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