community yearbook 2018

MAY

W:286.501mm H:0.353mm ISSUEDATE_ID 2_11 Newbury Weekly News

Thursday, 25 January, 2018

Eyesore demolished IT was the end of an era on Newbury’s skyline. The demolition of the

Entertainment centre A BOWLING alley, trampo- line park, a gym and a hotel were all considered for the Kennet Shopping centre in Newbury when it is redevel- oped. An option to provide outside

town’s ‘eyesore’, the Ster- ling Cables tower, got into full swing as the site was prepared for housing. Developer Amirantes are due to build 167 flats in place of the 250ft tower. The new homes will be spread across eight blocks, varying in height between three and eight storeys. A new road, which will be constructed as part of the Sterling Industrial Estate redevelopment, will link Hector’s Way and Kings Road. Improvements will also be made to the Boundary Road bridge so that it can accom- modate two-way traffic, with pedestrian footpaths installed. When the plans were approved in 2015, Buckle- bury ward member

seating on the upper level of the centre on the Cheap Street side was also being proposed. The trampoline park and bowl- ing alley were considered as long-term replacements for TK Maxx, along with a hotel and ‘residential opportunity’ above the shopping centre. The Kennet Shopping centre plans were just one of a number of key developments discussed at a Newbury Vision confer- ence at the Corn Exchange.

Other important topics included the relocation of Newbury bus station and improvements to Newbury rail- way station. The redevelopment of Market Street and the proposed regen- eration of the London Road Industrial Estate were also debated.

Matt’s golden debut DONNINGTON rower Matthew Rossiter made a spectacular senior GB debut when he teamed up with Jacob Dawson to win the men’s pairs at the opening World Cup event of the season in Belgrade. It was Rossiter’s first world cup regatta and, as stroke to Dawson’s bow, the pair won a series of races to claim victory for the GB team. Rossiter won a number of international races at junior and under-23 level, but seven years ago it looked as if his rowing career might be over when he sustained a serious back injury. It kept him out of the sport for nearly three years, but the Leander athlete has battled back to the top. They eased through their heat in Belgrade by four seconds, surging ahead of Netherlands duo Mechiel Versluis and Mitchel Steenman after 1,250 metres and going on to win with Spain’s pair a similar margin adrift in third place. Gatting’s an opener CRICKET legend Mike Gatting was guest of honour at an opening ceremony for Shalbourne’s new sports pavilion. The former England star, who captained the national side in 23 Test matches between 1986 and 1995, cut the tape to formally declare the state-of-the-art facility open. The Shalbourne Pavilion Appeal was launched in May 2014, with the aim of raising £200,000 to build the new facility after the old one became dangerously dilapidated. The new pavilion has fully-equipped changing rooms, together with toilet and shower areas for men and women.

Sterling Cables tower was demolished

Graham Pask (Con) said: “This site has been an eyesore for 30 years or more. It’s probably the

worst site we have got in the town. “The need to do something with it is inevitable.” New mayor takes office NEWBURY’S 421st mayor was sworn into office at a ceremony at the Corn Exchange. After a procession from Newbury Town Hall, outgo- ing mayor Julian Swift- Hook handed over the robes and chain of office to former deputy mayor David Fenn. Margo Payne, who was elected to Newbury Town Council in 2015, took on the role of deputy mayor. Mr Fenn said: “I am very pleased to be appointed, it is a privilege. There are lots of places to visit and people to meet, of all ages.”

Royals on parade at wedding THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were among hundreds of guests at the James and Pippa Matthews wave to the crowds after their wedding

Jaguar with her father Michael. Her nephew and niece, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, were among the page boys, while princes William and Harry also attended. The service lasted around 45 minutes and was conducted by the Rev Nick Wynne-Jones. Miss Middleton and Mr Matthews, a 41-year-old hedge fund manager, then enjoyed a Champagne reception with close family and friends.

wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in Engle- field. The Duchess was on hand to help her younger sister Pippa, and to usher the bridesmaids and page boys into St Mark ’s Church, on the family estate of Richard Benyon. The bride, who wore a gown by Giles Deacon, arrived at the 17th- century church in a vintage 1951

Outgoing mayor of Newbur y Julian Swift-Hook, left, hands over the chains of office to David Fenn

,ĞĂƌ ďĞƩĞƌ ĨĞĞů ďĞƩĞƌ

,ĞĂƌŝŶŐ ůŽƐƐ ĐĂŶ ŚĂƉƉĞŶ Ăƚ ĂŶLJ ƟŵĞ͕ Ăƚ ĂŶLJ ĂŐĞ͘ But treatment of hearing loss can improve social ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŽŶ͕ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ ĂŶĚ ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ƉŽǁĞƌ͘ ^Ž ƚŚĞ ƐŽŽŶĞƌ LJŽƵ ƚĂŬĞ ĂĐƟŽŶ ƚŚĞ ďĞƩĞƌ͘ dŽ Ŭ LJŽƵƌ ĨƌĞĞ ŝŶŝƟĂů ĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ĐĂůů DĂƌLJ Hare Hearing Centre on 01635 523 343 or come ĂŶĚ ƐĞĞ ƵƐ Ăƚ ϭϬ tĞĂǀĞƌƐ tĂůŬ ŝŶ EĞǁďƵƌLJ͘

Quality hearing care by the experts www.maryharehearingcentres.co.uk