FOLLOWING the announcement by Reading Borough Council that the arch in Cemetery Junction could see renovations made soon, Junction Arch Heritage and Arts has celebrated that the building could be approaching community use.
The Grade II listed arch, which leads into Reading Old Cemetery, has been unused for more than a decade, as funding was needed for expensive repairs to bring it up to safety standards.
The Planning Applications Committee is now due to meet later today (Wednesday, October 2).
JAHA has submitted a number of grant funding applications to develop its ambitions for the site, including using it for community events.
The council has confirmed it is waiting the outcome of their latest grant bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which, if accepted, would secure funding for the group to deliver its plans.
The council is supporting the bid but will consider alternative options for the building, which could include placing it on the market.
JAHA’s founding Director, Nick Cooksey, said: “It’s fantastic that Reading Borough Council are undertaking these works, which will address the Arch’s most serious structural issue – the fact that the front of the building is coming away.
“We have been keeping a close eye on the condition of the building. It was the stonework survey that we commissioned in 2023 that alerted the council to the state of the Arch, prompting them to carry out their own survey and instigate urgent repairs.
“Our survey picked up another major issue that needs to be addressed before it can be brought back in to use–structural problems to rear left-hand corner of the South Lodge, where a window also needs to be reinstated.
“A previous survey we commissioned in 2021 picked up a serious damp problem, which we plan to remedy by adding a French drain.”
He explained: “We have been working on securing grant funding since 2021, when the council accepted our offer to purchase the Arch.
“We have already received four grants, which we have used to fund the surveys and viability work, as well as community engagement events.
“We have recently submitted our first application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We should know by the end of November whether we have been successful–If so, we plan to address these issues then bring the Arch into use as community venue.”
The council has confirmed that it has applied for a listed building works after a contractor’s survey determined that there was a low risk of falling masonry.
The planning committee is due to decide on whether works will go ahead later today.
