READING & DISTRICT LABOUR PARTY MEDIA RELEASE
2 January 2011
Southcote’s Happy Prospect bought for affordable housing : pub should be demolished early in 2011
The problems posed by the eyesore Happy Prospect pub on Coronation Square look like coming to an end with news that the people who bought the site from Greene King sold it on just before Christmas to a firm called PMC Group of Southampton, who will be signing a design and build contract with Home Group to build affordable housing on the site.
Southcote Councillor Pete Ruhemann, who pressed over the summer for enforcement action to get the site secured and reduce the threat of vandalism and arson, says this is really good news.
“We now expect,” he says, “the pub to be demolished in the next two to three months, and that will be warmly welcomed by local people tired of the eyesore that it has become. More social housing is always welcome, but the Southcote Neighbourhood Survey showed a good deal of support for a new community facility for the estate and we will also be looking for a commuted payment in return for surrendering the covenant requiring a pub on the site, which money can then be put towards that facility.
“Local people have been very patient,” he says, “but I hope we will soon be going something like full steam ahead!”
//ENDS
For further information contact Pete Ruhemann0782 1609206
For information on Reading Labour Party and its campaigns visit www.readinglabour.org.uk
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