Latest news with #AdeleBarnettWard
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Lost library book was found in Paris and returned to Reading
A book which was borrowed from a library in the UK was found abandoned on the Paris Metro before being diligently returned by a travel guide, "Top 10 Paris," was borrowed from Battle Library on Oxford Road in Reading earlier in the eagle-eyed Parisienne found it on Metro Line 1 in the French capital a few weeks later and messaged the library to find out how to send it staff have now contacted the original borrower to reassure them the book has been returned. Reading Borough Council's lead councillor for leisure and culture, Adele Barnett-Ward, said: "It's wonderful to see how far our library books can travel, although we do prefer they come back home eventually." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reading council accused of 'hostile' takeover consultation
A council has been accused of a "hostile act" for asking people living in five West Berkshire villages how they would feel about coming under its Pangbourne, Calcot, Purley-on-Thames and Tilehurst all currently sit under the umbrella of West Berkshire Reading Borough Council says it wants to take responsibility for them instead, and has launched a is a move opposed by West Berkshire Council, but Reading says it would never have suggested it had its neighbour not announced it wanted to merge with two Oxfordshire authorities. Reading will now consult with the 32,000 or so people living in the five villages on its western will ask what they think of its plan to absorb them into what it is increasingly keen on calling Greater Reading. At a meeting to discuss its next moves, Reading councillor Adele Barnett-Ward said they had never planned to be in this position."I just find it bizarre - West Berkshire started it. We've just commented on it," she fellow councillor Rachel Ward said: "I don't think any of us in a million years would have suggested this proposal if it hadn't been for Ridgeway Council being created out of the ether."No matter how we got here, the people living in these villages now find themselves in the middle of a war of words between the two the next few months the people living in the villages at the heart of this political row can expect to be hit by a blizzard of councils will be eager to hear their views and get their points across, no doubt be couched in neutral with the leader of West Berkshire Council having already accused Reading of trying to pull off a "land grab" and a "hostile act", and Reading councillors calling its neighbour's behaviour "bizarre", neutrality does not appear to be the order of the day. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Construction of 'amazing' new theatre underway
Construction work has started on a town's "amazing" new 200-seat theatre. Contractors have moved into The Hexagon in Reading to begin building the new Studio Theatre, which will also have backstage facilities and an upgraded technical area. A ceremony marking the start of the work on Monday was attended by Reading Borough Council councillors, including leader Liz Terry. She said: "I am so pleased we are now at the point where this transformative work is beginning to create a new purpose-built venue." She said the new theatre would provide "amazing new facilities" for the town. "The new Studio Theatre is also set to be at the heart of a regeneration for that area of the town as part of the Minster Quarter," she said. The council said the new theatre had been designed to be flexible, with the foyer doubling as a rehearsal and community space. The seating in the theatre itself will also be removeable, to create a standing space for 300 people. Accessible entrances are also going to be installed. Lead councillor for culture Adele Barnett-Ward said the new facility would attract a wide range of cultural acts. "The arts are such a vital part of the town and people's lives," he said. "I cannot wait to see the first shows in the new Studio Theatre and see community groups use the space." The first stage of the work will involve the demolition of the backstage area, dock and stage door area. Shows will pause for 11 weeks to allow the work to begin, and will resume on 27 September with a temporary back of house area in place. The new Studio Theatre will be open to the public in spring 2027. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Scaled-back theatre upgrade project approved Multimillion-pound plans for theatre given go-ahead Council submits £13.7m theatre upgrade plans Reading Borough Council
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Construction for new Hexagon Studio Theatre underway in Reading
Construction work has started on a town's "amazing" new 200-seat have moved into The Hexagon in Reading to begin building the new Studio Theatre, which will also have backstage facilities and an upgraded technical area.A ceremony marking the start of the work on Monday was attended by Reading Borough Council councillors, including leader Liz said: "I am so pleased we are now at the point where this transformative work is beginning to create a new purpose-built venue." She said the new theatre would provide "amazing new facilities" for the town."The new Studio Theatre is also set to be at the heart of a regeneration for that area of the town as part of the Minster Quarter," she said. The council said the new theatre had been designed to be flexible, with the foyer doubling as a rehearsal and community seating in the theatre itself will also be removeable, to create a standing space for 300 entrances are also going to be councillor for culture Adele Barnett-Ward said the new facility would attract a wide range of cultural acts."The arts are such a vital part of the town and people's lives," he said."I cannot wait to see the first shows in the new Studio Theatre and see community groups use the space." The first stage of the work will involve the demolition of the backstage area, dock and stage door will pause for 11 weeks to allow the work to begin, and will resume on 27 September with a temporary back of house area in new Studio Theatre will be open to the public in spring 2027. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Designs for Reading's planned new central library released
Images showing how a town's new "big, bright and beautiful" central library could look have been released. Reading Borough Council is building a new library in the Civic Centre in Bridge Street, which will open in spring 2026 and replace the current central library in Kings wants residents to give their views about what they most value so they can be reflected in the final will include specific areas for children, teenagers, local history study and quiet study. "I am so excited to share these designs for our fantastic new library. It is going to be big, bright, and beautiful," Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Council's lead councillor for leisure and culture, said."The designs include features suggested by library users, including informal seating for teens and better equipped spaces for people to study and work."But we don't only want your opinions on the layout and furnishings. We also want you to tell us which elements of our library service are most important to you, so we can ensure our libraries are delivering for everyone in our town."Residents can fill out an online form here or fill out a paper form at any of the town's libraries before 26 July. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
