I am extremely disappointed that the council’s bid for Reading Gaol has been rejected by the Ministry of Justice. You can read about the bid details on the council’s website here.

This recent development makes it even more important to press our case with Ministers, and I have now formally written to the Justice Secretary to request an urgent meeting, so that he, Reading Borough Council, myself and the MP for Reading West can agree a way forward.

My letter is in response to the Ministry of Justice deciding to put the gaol back on the open market, despite a bid from Reading Borough Council to pay £2.6 million for the historic site.

Click here to read my letter.

I believe the gaol is a unique historic building and I hope that our campaign will encourage the Government to rethink its approach.

A previous commercial bid for the site collapsed due to a series of problems and I believe the council’s offer is a generous one, which will help create a wonderful arts and heritage site for Reading and the country as a whole.

I would like to thank you again for your support for this important campaign to save a vital part of our heritage.