WORK to save Reading’s historic gaol from developers is continuing behind the scenes.
Campaigners want to see the site, empty since 2014, turned into an arts hub.
The Ministry of Justice, which owns the prison, has been hoping to sell it off to generate income from the government, with the most predicted outcome being that it will be sold to the highest bidder and transformed into luxury flats.
The Save Reading Gaol campaign was launched to oppose the move, and has received support from both of Reading’s MPs: Matt Rodda, the Labour MP for Reading East, and Alok Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West.
A petition calling for the Ministry of Justice to approve a bid that would convert the prison for arts use has approximately 9,000 signatures, with campaigners pushing to get 10,000 in coming months.
Mr Rodda and Mr Sharma recently met prison minister Victoria Atkins, the Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle, to discuss the plans. However, due to the changes in government, Mrs Atkins has since been replaced in her position by Stuart Andrew, the Conservative MP for Pudsey.
And a new minister could be appointed next month by the winner of the Conservative leadership contest.
“I’m stepping up the campaign to save Reading Gaol,” Mr Rodda said.
“I hope we can reach 10,000 signatures on the petition to save the historic building and I am encouraging anyone who hasn’t yet signed it to sign.
“I hope this will show the strength of feeling locally and will encourage the Ministry of Justice to work with me, the Borough Council and other campaigners to help save the gaol.”
He added that he is working with local arts and community groups and Reading Borough Council to develop an alternative proposal for the Gaol’s future.
The campaign received a boom in March last year when street artist Banksy painted an escaping prisoner on the exterior wall of the prison.
Mr Rodda said that he is also communicating with Banksy as part of the campaign.
Activists have argued Reading Gaol is an important national heritage site, as poet Oscar Wilde was imprisoned there for gross indecency with two other men from 1895 to 1897.
King Henry I is also thought to be buried nearby.
The petition states: “This wonderful site should stay open to the public, it is too important to be redeveloped as luxury flats.”
The petition can be signed online here: https://mattroddamp.com/content/stop-reading-gaol-sell
Activists were seen handing out physical copies of it in East Reading on Saturday, August 6.
The campaign also encourages people to write to their MP and the Ministry of Justice, and join the Friends of Reading Gaol Facebook group.
