A push for a major road in Reading to be named in honour of one of its leading citizens is continuing.
Sir John Madejski was the founder of the magazine which became Auto Trader, was the chairman of Reading FC and served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Reading.
When he was the Reading FC chairman, he oversaw its move from Royal Elm Park to the Madejski Stadium, which was completed in 1998.
He also helped finance and found the John Madejski Academy.
The football ground was renamed the Select Car Leasing Stadium in July 2021, and the secondary school was renamed Hartland High School in September last year.
A proposal has been made to rename part of the A33 John Madejski Way in his honour.
A decision on the naming of the road would have to be made by Reading Borough Council’s planning applications committee.
Tony Page, the former mayor, asked for an update on the proposal at the latest meeting, particularly when a consultation will begin and what the closing date for responses will be.
Councillor Jan Gavin (Labour, Caversham), the chair of the committee, said: “The council has launched a consultation on renaming part of the A33 after Sir John Madejski, the proposal covers the A33 from the junction with Rose Kiln Lane, named the Brunel Retail Park, south to the roundabout joining the Basingstoke Road.
“Letters to affected properties were issued on Thursday, May 28.
“The consultation will close on Sunday, July 12.”
Feedback from the consultation will be incorporated into a report that will be presented to the committee when it meets either on September 9 or October 7.
Mr Page then asked why the whole of the 33 in Reading couldn’t be named John Madejski Way.
This question was answered by John Ennis, the lead councillor for transport.
Cllr Ennis (Labour, Southcote) said: “That road up until Rose Kiln Lane, we’ve been advised by council officers, is called Rose Kiln Lane.
“We were told that the whole of the road was called Rose Kiln Lane and it isn’t; the bit coming southwards is not named; it’s the A33, which makes this process easier rather than having to go through another one.
“I can confirm that, but that is what I believe to be the case.”
Cllr Ennis thanked Mr Page for publicly making the suggestion, but also recognised the work, Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) the deputy leader of the council and a Reading FC season ticket holder, has done to advocate for the A33 to be named as well.
He said: “I think it will be a great thing for one of the best people that’s done in this town.”
The answer was given at the meeting on Wednesday, June 3.
