• Support Wokingham Today
  • Get the print edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Thursday, May 29, 2025
Wokingham.Today
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • All
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
    • Riseley
    • Shinfield
    • Sindlesham
    • Sonning
    • Spencers Wood
    • Swallowfield
    • Three Mile Cross
    • Twyford
    • Wargrave
    • Winnersh
    • Wokingham
    • Wokingham Without
    • Woodley
    • Woosehill
    • Yateley
    Dalia's CoppaFeel Curry Night at The Tamarind Tree restaurant was another delicious success for the cancer charity fundraiser. Picture: Emma Merchant

    CoppaFeel Curry Night in Wokingham a joyful fundraiser

    Claire Revie, founder of SHARE Wokingham, helps to create the new brew.

    Special brew to benefit SHARE

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    Sonning bridge. Pic: Google.

    Fine for Sonning weight breach

    This year's event is being held on Saturday, June 14.

    Carnival fun is coming to Woodley

    The Forest School U15s football team

    The Forest School U15s make history with another National Elite Cup victory

    Brecon Road Food and Wine, Woodley Picture: Google Maps

    Woodley store has licence revoked

    Reading Today; 18th March 2023;  Thames Water HQ - Extinction Rebellion protest

    Thames Water issued £123M Ofwat fine–the biggest ever–over environmental breaches

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

  • SPORT
    • All
    • Binfield FC
    • Reading FC
    The Forest School U15s football team

    The Forest School U15s make history with another National Elite Cup victory

    Sam Green and Megan Bartlett, who both took part in the Wokingham half marathon earlier this year. Pic: Harry McBain.

    Sam and Megan take Sumas supporters’ awards

    Reading FC

    Former Reading FC player announces shock international retirement

    Reading FC - Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading FC star player linked with transfer to Wrexham

    Sam Hutchinson Picture: Luke Adams

    Former Reading FC reflects on heart attack suffered during match

    FC Bracknell

    FC Bracknell U10 Lions score dramatic winner to win the cup for second season in a row

    Ruben Selles

    Former Reading FC manager Ruben Selles linked with League One job

    Reading FC Picture: Luke Adams

    Reading fans – you can finally dare to dream again

    BAPCO beat Burghfield to take the title. Pic: Andrew Batt

    Four in a row for BAPCO

  • READING FC
  • COMMUNITY
    Dalia's CoppaFeel Curry Night at The Tamarind Tree restaurant was another delicious success for the cancer charity fundraiser. Picture: Emma Merchant

    CoppaFeel Curry Night in Wokingham a joyful fundraiser

    Claire Revie, founder of SHARE Wokingham, helps to create the new brew.

    Special brew to benefit SHARE

    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    Sonning bridge. Pic: Google.

    Fine for Sonning weight breach

    This year's event is being held on Saturday, June 14.

    Carnival fun is coming to Woodley

    A grant from The National Lottery Fund will help volunteers at The Eco Skills Learning Centre in Arborfield to create more bird box kits for their children's workshops. PIcture: Spencers Wood Repair Cafe

    Grant means more homes – for the birds

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

    Retrospective plans have been refused. Pic: WBC.

    Vending machine plans refused

    Sam Green and Megan Bartlett, who both took part in the Wokingham half marathon earlier this year. Pic: Harry McBain.

    Sam and Megan take Sumas supporters’ awards

  • LIFESTYLE
    • All
    • Food
    • Health
    • Obituaries
    • People
    Entries are open for this year's event.

    Enter now for Wokingham Bikeathon

    A government push for more radiotherapy machines has been welcomed by ministers as the Royal Berkshire Hospital is among the services to benefit from them.

    Royal Berks one of 28 Trusts to see new radiotherapy machine investment

    A banking hub in Yorkshire. Pic: Murray Scott/Link.

    Banking hub plans for village

    Retrospective plans have been refused. Pic: WBC.

    Vending machine plans refused

    Mind in Berkshire, which provides support, advice, and signposting for mental health services in Berkshire, was commissioned to examine Black people's access to necessary services, as part of a wider drive from the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to address inequalities in local services. Picture: PixaBay

    Mind in Berkshire report finds serious deficits in mental health provisions for Black people

    AB Walker

    VAUGHAN, David Raymond

    The Hope & Anchor. Pic: Rightmove.

    Historic town pub listed for sale

    Woodley Repair Cafe operates on the first Sunday of the month, at Christ Church, Crockhamwell Road, between 2pm and 4pm. Picture: Emma Merchant

    Get things fixed in Woodley

    Photography by: Summers Photography. Flowers by: Fletchers Flowers. Set up by: Crystal Hire.

    Get married and win a wedding at Dinton

  • WHAT’S ON
    • All
    • Arts
    • Entertainment

    REVIEW: “Three Hens In A Boat” at The Watermill Theatre

    Siren RG1

    Siren RG1 to mark first anniversary with weekender celebration

    Wellington Farm Shop

    Wellington Farm Shop celebrates its 20th anniversary

    Two concerts in one day from Reading's APO. Picture: Pexels via Pixabay

    An orchestral event in Wokingham promises evening of drama and contrast

    Eva Wong Nava will be at Trinity Hall Church on Monday from 4pm until 5pm. Picture: Eva Wong Nava

    Young writers can meet children’s author Eva Wong Nava

    Crafters can join a project  to decorate Twyford village centre with bunting Picture: Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

    Get out the bunting for VE Day at Wokingham’s May Fayre

    Crowthorne Symphony Orchestra's performance of American music promises to be a fun and high energy evening. Picture: CSO

    Discounted tickets available for summer concert in Wokingham

    The Wokingham Lions Club has announced its new season of  #WOKY Comedy Nights at Wokingham Theatre, will begin on Friday, October 4. Picture: Wokingham Lions Club

    Enjoy the last of this season’s #Woky Comedy Night

    A concert at Wokingham Baptist Church will celebrate Ukrainian culture and support charity. Picture: Olena Romanovska

    Wokingham to host a concert of Ukrainian music and dancing

  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT
No Result
View All Result
Wokingham.Today
No Result
View All Result
Home What's On Arts

Multi-million pound bid for Reading Gaol arts hub rejected

by Charlotte King
May 18, 2021
in Arts, Featured, Reading
Banksy reading gaol matt rodda mp reading borough council arts hub culture heritage moj ministry of justice

The artwork, now confirmed to be by Banksy, appeared on the wall of Reading Gaol overnight. Picture: Phil Creighton

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A MULTI-MILLION pound bid to transform Reading Gaol into a “beacon” of culture has been rejected, after the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said it was not high enough.

Reading Borough Council submitted the £2.6 million bid for the site in March with the hopes of turning it into an arts and heritage hub.

Now, the council understands the MoJ is likely to market the site once again and has accused it of not fully recognising the “huge historical and cultural value” of the building.

Reading Borough Council has since published details of its bid, Reading Gaol Vision, which would turn the space into a heritage centre celebrating history and archaeology with space for theatre and dance exhibitions.

The vision also proposed a “creative innovation hub” to host workshops, events and resident-led exhibitions, alongside a rooftop cafe.

Reading East MP Matt Rodda, whose constituency includes parts of Woodley and Earley, said the project is too important to fall by the wayside.

Related posts

POETRY CORNER: The Ballad of Reading Gaol updated

MP keeps pressing case with ministers to try and save Reading Gaol from development

“I’m concerned about the developments regarding the gaol,” he said. “I hope we can thrash out an agreement.

“The gaol is a vital part of our heritage and should be saved and used as an arts hub.”

Mr Rodda is now calling for an urgent meeting with the Justice Secretary, Reading Borough Council and Alok Sharma, the MP for Reading West.

READ MORE: Fresh hope for gaol campaigners as sale falls through

Cllr Jason Brock, leader of Reading Borough Council, added: “The council and the community are very clear that the sale of Reading Gaol is about so much more than monetary value, which is what makes this decision by the MoJ especially disappointing.”

“The bid may have had the council’s name on it, but it was submitted for the Reading community who have demonstrated huge enthusiasm and passion to transform Reading Gaol into something truly special.”

This is the second time the MoJ has rejected a bid from Reading Borough Council to buy the site.

Reading Gaol has been empty and unused since December 2013.

In March, world-renowned graffiti artist Banksy painted a mural on the walls of the Grade II Listed building.

Mr Rodda, one of the leading lights of the ‘Save Reading Gaol’ campaign, welcomed the artwork.

It also prompted further support for the campaign from actor Kate Winslet.

READ MORE: Reading Gaol mural confirmed to be genuine Banksy piece

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Tags: arts hub reading gaolBallad of Reading Gaolbanksy reading gaolkate winslet reading gaolmatt rodda save reading gaolReading gaolreading gaol matt roddasave reading gaol
Previous Post

WOODLEY COW: Police referred to conduct office

Next Post

FA restructure sees Binfield and Sumas promoted while Woodley United and Berks County to clash in Combined Counties

FOLLOW US

POPULAR THIS WEEK

A government push for more radiotherapy machines has been welcomed by ministers as the Royal Berkshire Hospital is among the services to benefit from them.

Royal Berks one of 28 Trusts to see new radiotherapy machine investment

May 29, 2025
The masterplan for the development in Atborfield. Pic: Dandara.

Decision made on plans for 111 new homes in Arborfield

May 28, 2025
Sam Hutchinson Picture: Luke Adams

Former Reading FC reflects on heart attack suffered during match

May 27, 2025
Reading Today; 18th March 2023;  Thames Water HQ - Extinction Rebellion protest

Thames Water issued £123M Ofwat fine–the biggest ever–over environmental breaches

May 28, 2025
Wokingham Children?s Book Festival.

Save the date for children’s book festival

May 28, 2025
The Berkshire Care Association's annual awards celebrate the work taking place across the adult social care sector in Berkshire, including residential, nursing, domiciliary, and learning disability care settings. Picture: Pennie Withers, Berkshire Care Association

Berkshire Care Association celebrates celebrates stars at annual Care Awards

May 29, 2025

ABOUT US

Wokingham Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Wokingham. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Wokingham Borough.

Wokingham.Today is a Social Enterprise and aims to ensure that everyone within the Borough has free access to independent and up-to-date news. However, providing this service is not without costs. If you are able to, please make a contribution to support our work.

CONTACT US

[email protected]

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Support Us
  • Book Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: [email protected], or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Arborfield
    • Barkham
    • Beech Hill
    • Binfield
    • Bracknell
    • Charvil
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
    • Emmbrook
    • Finchampstead
    • Grazeley
    • Henley
    • Hurst
    • Lower Earley
    • Norreys
    • Reading
    • Remenham
  • COMMUNITY
  • LIFESTYLE
  • SPORT
  • READING FC
  • OBITUARIES
  • WHAT’S ON
  • JOBS
  • PHOTOS
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • CONTACT US
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION
  • SUPPORT US

© 2022 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.