'Positive response' to Victoria Park café plan

The town council is planning to demolish the old kiosk and boat store near to the pond and make way for a new building which will include a café, changing rooms, baby changing facilities, boat store and a park warden’s office.
The new building will be located in the same area as the existing kiosk and will also include new public toilets.
Chair of the town council’s Victoria Park working group, David Allen (Lib Dem, Victoria) said that West Berkshire residents had reacted positively to the idea - apart from the first person who attended the consultation, who said they would have preferred an older style for the building.
Some comments included: “Very good. We often thought the existing facilities were poor. We think it looks fantastic for the heart of Newbury.”
“This is an excellent idea and long overdue. Outside seating that could hear the bandstand on Sundays would be ideal.”
Speaking at the town hall Mr Allen said: “In terms of design we’ve chosen a light transparent structure that fits in with the trees and wanted it as discreet as possible and not too overbearing. More importantly it has all the facilities the town council needs.”
Mr Allen said the total cost of the project was £500,000, of which £250,000 would come from Greenham Common Trust, while the remaining £250,000 would come from a public works loan.
Mr Allen added that the interest payments would be covered by the commercial business, which the town council was looking for an operator to run.
“It could be community run, professionally run or a start-up business,” he said.
People can comment on the concept drawings, displayed at the civic entrance of Newbury Town Hall, from 10am to 3pm today (Thursday), until the same times on Saturday, April 12.
An online survey can be also be found at www.newbury.gov.uk
Mr Allen said that the town council was still on course for work to begin in late summer and hoped that the new building would be ready for Spring 2015.