Greenham control tower sold to parish council

Greenham Parish Council want to convert the Grade-II listed former airbase control tower into a visitor centre with exhibition and interpretation space, a café, public toilets and offices.
The parish council announced in January that it had received £421,555 from the Government’s Community Assets and Services Fund to help buy and refurbish the historic building after West Berkshire Council voted to sell the tower in December.
The sale of the building, one of seven of its kind in the country, from West Berkshire Council to the parish council was completed today (Wednesday).
The sale coincides with the parish council submitting a planning application for the site this week.
District and parish councillor for Greenham, Julian Swift Hook (Lib Dem) told NewburyToday: "This is a major step forward in converting the control tower into a visitors centre for everyone who uses Greenham Common.
"The application has to go through the normal planning process, and I'm sure there will be various questions asked, but we are confident the application will be approved and we can get on with converting it as soon as possible."
The leader of the West Berkshire Council, Gordon Lundie (Cons, Lambourn) said: "I am delighted that we have been able to complete the sale of Greenham Common Control Tower to Greenham Parish Council.
"It is right that the people of Greenham should have the opportunity to deliver a first class recreational facility that draws upon the history of the common and its airbase, and protects access to the tower for the people of West Berkshire.
“Subject to planning approval, let us all hope that the necessary conversions and refurbishment proceed quickly so that the people of West Berkshire can soon derive benefit from this new attraction.”
A decision is expected from West Berkshire Council by June 4.