Page 1143 - Reading Mercury

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15 July
THE BATTLE TO SAVE MARTIN’S IS FINALLY LOST
Wokingham district councillors have agreed to accept an offer for the site to the
highest bidder. Protesters were told they were “living in cloud cuckoo land if they
thought councillors would change their minds at this late stage.
Until this week “Save Martin’s Pool” campaigners still had hopes of victory.
Wokingham Town Council had agreed to offer the district council £60,000 a year as
part of a three-year leasing deal. At the end of that time the district, which owns the
site, could sell it if it wanted. But on Monday district councillors rejected the offer
outright and entered into private talks to decide which of the development bids to
accept.
The district says it needs the money from the sale, estimated at £500,000 for
essential housing projects. Councillors were advised that if a deal was not signed by
the end of the year, the capital receipt would only be worth half of that amount. The
carrot proved too great a temptation for councillors to pass up.

Thur 29th July
LAING TO BUY MARTIN’S POOL
Laing Homes will be the new owners of the Martin’s Pool site. The company’s offer
to the owners, Wokingham District Council, was accepted in a private meeting of
councillors on July 12th. Laing was revealed as the highest bidder at a council
meeting on Monday but the amount the company is paying for the site is being kept
secret until negotiations have been completed.

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Thur 19 August
VERONICA ESSAME DIES
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Veronica Essame died on the 11 of August at Battle Hospital after a nine-month
fight against cancer. She was a well-known fund-Raiser. She was made an honorary
free person of the town in 1966 and received a BEM medal in 1991 for her work.

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Thur 30 Sept
WOKINGHAM TWINNING PRESENTS PLATE TO VIRY CHATILLON
A celebration plate designed and engraved by disabled teenager Rebecca Gale was
presented by Wokingham to the people of Viry Chatillon. The gift marked five years
of twinning between the two towns and was commissioned by Wokingham’s Town
Twinning Association. Rebecca, aged 19, has a glass engraving workshop at Holme
Grange.
A party from Wokingham travelled to Viry Chatillon to present Rebecca’s work
together with an oak tree.

Thur 22nd July
RECTOR SAYS GOODBYE TO WOKINGHAM
The Rev. Peter Rapsey, Rector of St. Paul’s, Wokingham, is preparing this week to
move to Dorset where he will be chaplain to Warminster School. His final service will
be on Sunday. Mr. Rapsey and his wife Christine have been in Wokingham for nine
years. During this time, the parish centre in Reading Road has been built, the church
has been decorated and relit, the Lady Chapel and the Walter Chapel have been
refurbished and the spire with its bells has been made safe.

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