IT’S been part of the town skyline for over a hundred years, but it will soon be gone.
Work to demolish the huge East Reading gas tower has begun, creating a new landscape unfamiliar to generations of families in Newtown and beyond.
In its place around 130 luxury flats will be built causing anger among many locals that only four will be available at affordable prices.
Leslee Barron has lived in the shadow of the gas tower for more than 20 years and chronicled it from every angle. She has helped put together an exhibition about this iconic landmark which runs for two days at St. John and St. Stephen’s Church in Orts Road.
“I think it is a structure many people love and dislike at the same time,” she explained.
“Of course it is huge and dominates the area, but it also has an elegance as well as providing a practical use for decades. When you approach Reading by train or road or are walking into Newtown, a sight of the tower lets you know you are nearly home. In the past you could tell the weather depending if the tanks were high or low.
“It has been derelict for a while and the demolition has started but no one could dispute this achievement of industrial architecture has inspired people over many years to photograph or paint it in its many moods and views.”
Leslee said there is anger that the luxury flats will be priced out of the reach of local people.
“I don’t think there will be a rush to buy them, in fact there were a lot of objections when they were first mentioned. There is also concern about a lack of facilities and infrastructure in the area to support so many new residents.”
The tower exhibition includes a variety of artworks and stories including the popular children’s book, Alina Saves the Moon. There are also photographs and accounts of the tower’s construction and views down the ages.
Leslee hopes a small part of the structure could be saved: “It would be wonderful if we could obtain a number of the steel segments which could be made into a bench.
“It could be located in the Newtown Community Gardens as a reminder of the once mighty tower.”
*The exhibition is held over two days, Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 Doors are open 10am-4pm on Saturday and 1pm-4pm on Sunday. Artists are donating 20% of any sales to the Reading Refugee Group.
