MATT RODDA MP has announced that Reading Gaol’s future is still uncertain despite a council bid “still being on the table.”
He met with prisons minister Damian Hinds, along with Alok Sharma, to discuss the future of the site for what he described as a “frank but reasonable” discussion.
Following the meeting, Mr Rodda said that the MoJ is still seeking what it calls “best value for money” on the sale of the now disused site of Reading Prison.
Mr Rodda: “They’ve used up over £1.2 million in moth-balling the gaol in the past 10 years, that’s a large loss of public money, which we think is dreadful.
“But we’re still pursuing them to look at an alternative, and we believe it’s quite possible there could be a council or arts community-led alternative.”
He said that the council’s bid on the site hasn’t been rejected yet and was still “on the table.”
Mr Rodda also said that he had “serious reservations” about the possible bidder for the site, citing the “previous bid which was put in by a speculative commercial developer.”
The bid fell through, he said, after the bidder understood the “complexities” of the site.
The council would, if successful in its bid, seek to “build on the heritage,” rather than a more “commercial” plan.
“What we need to do now is persuade the Ministry of Justice to take more notice and firm up the offers from the arts world.”
He explained that he was “impressed” by the offer made by Banksy in particular, and said that while the MOJ might not see such bidders as “conventional” in business, they would add a lot of value to the development of the project.
“The ministry is pressing on,” he continued, “and we have a last chance to change the MoJ’s approach.
“I hope we can show the strength of feeling locally, and I would ask the ministry to listen to local people.”
The Save Reading Gaol campaign march is due to take place on Saturday, March 25, from midday, at The Hexagon.
