A warehouse in west Reading will not be transformed into a gymnastics and parkour centre, after the council rejected plans this week.
Plans were submitted by Virtue Gymnastics to turn the vacant industrial building on 28 Portman Road into a
leisure centre focused on indoor free running and gymnastics. The site has been vacant for nearly four years and is close to other leisure facilities, including RedKangaroo Trampoline Park, TNT Gym and a dance studio. The plans received 41 letters of support and 14 objections from residents and businesses. But the council said the loss of the industrial employment land in a core employment area would be contrary to planning policy.
Walking with ghosts and being reminded of my own younger days );
);
THIS morning we agree to take another longed-for walk as the weather does look rather clement.
I suggest that we stay rather close to home as, first and foremost, I want to avoid the crowds that we encountered on our excursion to Hambleden and, secondly, there is so much to admire nearby. One does not have to go far to find joy from nature’s bounty.
Neither of us is keen on crowds in any case. I cannot imagine attending a rock concert these days, which is strange considering that I was a stage crew member at the University of Leeds back in the early Eighties.
11:59 EDT, 7 January 2021
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Three schoolchildren charged with the murder of a 13-year-old boy who was stabbed to death have been remanded into custody to stand trial in June.
Olly Stephens was found stabbed in a park just 250 yards from his home in Reading on Sunday afternoon.
Today two boys, 13 and 14, and a girl, 13, who cannot be named because of their age, stood before Reading Crown Court to face the charges of murder and conspiracy to commit GBH.
The girl was also charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard how she allegedly deleted information from her mobile phone and encouraged others to delete information from their mobile phones too.
06:28 EDT, 6 January 2021
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The heartbroken family of a 13-year-old boy stabbed to death in a countryside park has spoken of his terrifying final few moments desperately trying to get home.
Olly Stephens was killed at the beauty spot near his home in Emmer Green in Reading, Berkshire, on Sunday.
Police are investigating whether the teenager, who had autism, was killed with a Samurai sword following reports circulating on social media.
Officers have arrested a girl and four boys aged 13 and 14 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
Olly s parents, Amanda and Stewart, and older sister Emilia, mourned their hilariously funny, charming and beautiful loved one in a moving tribute.