§ Jane Griffiths (Reading, East) (Lab)I rise to present a petition on behalf of no fewer than 2,000 of the constituents of Reading, East. It opposes the plan to tear down the Kings Meadow swimming baths, and to develop Kings meadow and Caversham lock on the green banks of the Thames into a hotel, apartments and other developments. The petitioners would like the area to be retained as a public amenity. They were concerned, as was I, that after awareness of the petition became public, two people turned up and damaged the swimming baths, apparently to prevent the building from being listed. I would be surprised if, as is being said in Reading, that work was carried out on behalf of the council, but the neglect of the swimming baths and allowing the building to be covered in graffiti is a shame.
The petition states:
The Petition of Mr Robert O'Neill, residents of Caversham and Central Reading close to the River Thames, and other residents of Reading.Declares that Kings Meadow and Caversham Lock should not be redeveloped but retained as a public amenity.The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Secretary of State for Environment. Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency not to redevelop Kings Meadow and Caversham Lock but to retain them as public 577 amenities; and that the House of Commons urge the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that no open space in Kings Meadow is redeveloped.And the Petitioners remain, etc.To lie upon the Table.