Street name assigned for new flats development at Reading riverside

A former Reading mayor will be honoured with a lasting memorial as part of a big new development of homes at the riverside in Reading.

The old SSE power station off Vastern Road, located on the south bank of the River Thames, is set to be demolished to make way for 209 apartments contained in eight new buildings.

One new street is being created at the development, which will be named 'Bet Tickner Way' to honour the former mayor and councillor who died earlier this year.

Bet Tickner served as a councillor for 16 years from 2002 to 2018, being made mayor in 2006.

Her name was suggested to be added to the development by current members of Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee.

At a meeting where the name of the future street was selected, cllr Richard Davies (Labour, Thames) said: "I'm really pleased that we are able to honour our former colleague and mayor in this way."

Cllr Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) added: "I passed the situation on to Bet's son Paul Tickner who was delighted, and knew that his mother would be also similarly delighted and honoured."

The developer Berkeley Homes had suggested Electric Avenue and Albury Way, proposals which were discussed at a meeting on May 29.

READ MORE: Call for street name to honour former Mayor as 'Electric Avenue' suggestion rejected

However, cllr Davies asked for the name to be changed to honour cllr Tickner at the meeting.

Heather Porter, data and GIS manager was able to negotiate with Berkeley Homes for them to adopt Bet Tickner Way wich was unanimously approved as the street name for the development at the meeting on Wednesday, June 26.