I heard this last week, and again at the retail association meeting. We have sent a press release asking the administration to confirm it or deny it, and to tell us who is paying and how much it would cost.
There is a rumour that West Berkshire Council are intending to move to New Greenham Park within the next five years. Apparently it is all part of the deal with NGP funding the Pavilion in the Park.
I suppose the Conservatives will take their increased majority as a sign of approval of all their current plans so I guess on that basis the pavilion will be going ahead. It'll be an awful shame to lose so much of the park but with the governing party's councillors mostly representing rural areas they aren't likely to be concerned about that.
It's difficult to understand why the Greenham Common Trust, which has done so much good in West Berkshire, now seems intent on doing so much damage to the park when there are so many unused buildings and sites in the town centre.
It now appears this whole thing may well be driven by the council as suspected in the first place
Let's see what the council say on the issue when prompted, I know one senior Tory looked like he was a child that had been caught with his fingers in the biscuit tin when I approached him with the subject at the election count!!!
Moving the back office functions of WBC out of town seems a good idea (cheaper space, release of car parking spaces, etc) - though they could find a more convenient location than Greenham - Colthrop for instance, much more convenient for those from the east of the area.
The downside of any move like this is the reduction of people using the town centre in their lunch breaks - I know one shopkeeper who gave up after his best customers disappeared to Shaw.
The obvious block on moving out of town will be cost. Or at least it should be. We are already more than £50m in debt, and the debt interest is punishing. Will the council borrow even more???
The idea of the council offices moving have been in the pipe line for years. If I remember rightly, the bus station moves to the staff car park so more accessible for the station and a hotel to be built on the bus station/council offices. A free bus, similar to Vodafone buses, runs to Greenham Park.
The idea of the council offices moving have been in the pipe line for years. If I remember rightly, the bus station moves to the staff car park so more accessible for the station and a hotel to be built on the bus station/council offices. A free bus, similar to Vodafone buses, runs to Greenham Park.
Except that Vodafone buses aren't funded with public money.
The obvious block on moving out of town will be cost. Or at least it should be. We are already more than £50m in debt, and the debt interest is punishing. Will the council borrow even more???
Surely the whole point of moving is to save money?
Offset by selling a prime town centre piece of real estate. Moving to Greenham is a win-win.
Or they do not want to be the only ones left in the market square on their own when all the other tenants have moved into Park Way or have deserted the rest of Newbury?
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