Victoria Park Options

[ArchitectRIBA]

Good question, the Waterside is due to be given to developers - the idea of a youth centre in Newbury will soon be a thing of the past.

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Who says its going to developers, is it not owned by the council? If we are council tax payers which one of us agreed to sell it ? Another case of public land being flogged off without a proper debate.

[ArchitectRIBA]

Sorry, can't work out what you intended to say here.


Would there be room? What happens to the old wharf building? Or do you mean a different opposite (there are 3).


Seems like a good idea - but where does the Youth Centre go?

But isn't the whole idea of the underground car park for it to be connected to the new shopping development?

Just maybe it was a bad idea for St Bartholmew School gaining permission to change use to residential for Wormstall building - could this not have been used as a youth centre? Or better still - whilst Luker school is still standing convert that to a youth centre? The St Bartholomew School Foundation would then make some money from the council rather than sell all their assets to speculators.....why don't the NTP think of such ideas?

[dannyboy]

Terrible to think that teens hang out in a park - whatever next?

The hanging out isn't the problem. The mess they leave is.

[JeffG]

Just maybe it was a bad idea for St Bartholmew School gaining permission to change use to residential for Wormstall building - could this not have been used as a youth centre? Or better still - whilst Luker school is still standing convert that to a youth centre? The St Bartholomew School Foundation would then make some money from the council rather than sell all their assets to speculators.....why don't the NTP think of such ideas?

No thank you. I don't want a youth centre near my house. It's bad enough with the regular school kids.

Mr. Nimby.

[blackdog]

Who says its going to developers, is it not owned by the council?

West Berkshire Council say it is going to developers - to finance the prettyfying etc of the Wharf. Parts of the Wharf along the canal will also go to developers to build a pub and a restaurant as part of the same suggested deal.

The Pavillion in the Park was to be a replacement for the Waterside, now it's a replacement for New Greenham Arts as well. I hope they can co-exist.

[blackdog]

No thank you. I don't want a youth centre near my house. It's bad enough with the regular school kids.

Mr. Nimby.

One of the greatest things about the Waterside is its location, in the middle of the town, but out of the way enough to minimise problems to neighbours.

[ArchitectRIBA]

Sorry, can't work out what you intended to say here.


Would there be room? What happens to the old wharf building? Or do you mean a different opposite (there are 3).


Seems like a good idea - but where does the Youth Centre go?


But isn't the whole idea of the underground car park for it to be connected to the new shopping development?

Engineers and the environment agency obviously have proved you can dig a big gaping hole into a low water table without displacing the water elsewhere - (lets wait and see) - thus why not do it at the wharf?

There would be room if it wasn't 20,000 sqft - or why not go taller - not stopped them with the park way development.

Youth centre temporarily housed elsewhere ie - luker building when its emptied and before its redeveloped - or how about the greenham arts centre - must be loads of options besides these.

I did not mean relocate the new basement car park I meant use it as a precedent for more basement car parking. Personally I do not think I will park my car there when there is heavy rain forcast - remember what happened at Vodafone HQ?

[Bloggo]

Personally I do not think I will park my car there when there is heavy rain forcast - remember what happened at Vodafone HQ?

Is this a view based on professional experience?
Clearly you think that the underground car-park is ill-advised.

[JeffG]

Youth centre temporarily housed elsewhere ie - luker building when its emptied and before its redeveloped

And where do you live? Anyway, Luker won't be emptied until the new school is finished (Wormestall closes at Christmas), so that's some way in the future.

- or how about the greenham arts centre - must be loads of options besides these.

And who is going to go all the way up there?

Any youth centre needs to be in a central, non-residential location - tell you what: where it is now, is ideal.

[blackdog]

Any youth centre needs to be in a central, non-residential location - tell you what: where it is now, is ideal.

Can't disagree with that. But I would add that a youth centre needs to be exclusively for the youths, not mixed up in a multi-use facility. Kids need to have some sense of ownership of their centre or they will be alienated and won't use it.

The New Greenham Arts building will be demolished once they move to the Pavillion in the Park (why do you think New Greenham Trust are so keen to get the pavillion built?)

[ArchitectRIBA]

The New Greenham Arts building will be demolished - thats the first I've heard of that - did I miss an article somewhere? Does anyone have any more detail on this?

Of course its best for it to be in the town - just trying to suggest use of existing buildings instead of constantly building new ones - not very green approach for a so green West Berks Council?

[ArchitectRIBA]

And where do you live? Anyway, Luker won't be emptied until the new school is finished (Wormestall closes at Christmas), so that's some way in the future.


And who is going to go all the way up there?

Any youth centre needs to be in a central, non-residential location - tell you what: where it is now, is ideal.

Whats the rush with the pavilion? Wait till new St Barts completed, decamp from existing youth centre to empty Luker (or could have been Wormstall - too late now), build new replacement on existing site. Problem with Newbury Vision group is that they don't seem to use much vision but adopt plenty of local business clout via NTP to influence local matters. Just an idea, maybe someone can come up with a better one as I am not a politician.

[JeffG]

decamp from existing youth centre to empty Luker

You don't listen, do you? That is bang in the middle of a residential area.

[ArchitectRIBA]

You don't listen, do you? That is bang in the middle of a residential area.

Do not see why having a youth centre temporarily located in this area is a problem when it would be next to the new massive school with children who are there for sevral hours of the day - in a residential area. Anyway its not going to happen.....