A PROJECT has been launched to help keep Reading cleaner and tidier.
Reading BID, in partnership with Reading Borough Council, wants to ensure visitors have a good impression of the town centre.
With around 2.5 million visits every month, there is always wear and tear on infrastructure as well as the need for Reading to compete as a top shopping, dining and office location.
Several areas have been identified that needed refreshing or have been impacted negatively by anti-social behaviour.
Work has included replacing pavings, installed 21 tree pits, replacing town centre bins, removing graffiti, and upgrading lighting across the town.
There have also been litter picks with volunteers from Cross Country Trains, Forbury Works, Guardian Financial Services, Dog House, Grosvenor Casinos, Education Development Trust, Reading BID and Reading Borough Council.
Alexa Volker, Reading BIDs Manager, was thrilled with the initial results.
“First impressions of our town centre are vital to attracting visitors to come and spend their hard-earned money in our shops, restaurants and bars,” she said.
“The quality of our street furniture, paving and the cleanliness of our streets makes a big difference to how Reading is perceived and with the move to more hybrid working, we also need to make sure we properly serve the interests of those people who come into their offices in Reading town centre.
“Reading BID would like to thank Reading Borough Council for its proactive approach to ensuring our town centre is an attractive place. We have a town centre to be proud of and we need to keep investing to make sure it remains that way.”
And councillor Karen Rowland, Reading Borough Council’s lead for Environmental Services and Community Safety, said: “Reading town centre belongs to all of Reading’s residents and is a very popular place for both our residents and visitors with its excellent shopping, leisure and dining facilities in a lively setting.
“It is important that everyone who enjoys our town centre experiences an engaging and attractive environment.
“That means keeping the area as clean and attractive as possible. I’m pleased that a good deal of work has taken place in the last month in replacing paving and bins, planting new trees and removing graffiti.
“It has also been encouraging to see local businesses take a real hands-on interest in getting involved in a town centre litter pick.”
She continued: “In a busy town centre the work is never done, and there are many agencies that all have their role in keeping the town centre clean, safe and vibrant. There is also more to come with new benches, paving and ongoing work around cleansing.
“We will continue to work hard to maintain and improve our vibrant town centre, including working with our BID to bring forward further improvements and investment in the coming months and years.
“We look forward to welcoming both visitors and residents back to the town centre to enjoy a cleaner Reading.”
