Oracle in Reading wants to make car park safer
The shopping centre has asked to put up safety fencing
Last updated 17th Jun 2024
More changes are in the pipeline at The Oracle in Reading according to recently submitted plans.
The town’s flagship shopping centre, which has been in place since 1999, is already set for a transformation as the owners want to add 436 flats to the site.
Now the centre owners have applied to make changes to both of its car parks. At the Holy Brook car park accessed from Bridge Street, The Oracle Ltd Partnership has applied to demolish a glass atrium at roof level.
This would allow work to take place to level where the atrium once stood to create 10 car parking spaces. That would bring the total amount of parking spaces to 605.
It’s understood that the atrium currently forms part of the lift area for the car park.
Opposite, at the Riverside car park in Mill Lane, The Oracle Ltd Partnership has applied to install security fencing for customer safety.
Mitigation
An agent from planning consultants Turley said:
“These works form part of a series of mitigation measures, with the fencing intended for safety reasons, specifically to prevent persons from falling or jumping from the car park.”
Death
The installation of fencing comes after the death of Mark Patrick Flaherty, 59, of Church Lane, Ascot, who died after falling from the car park on New Year’s Day 2023.
The existing multi-storey car park is seven storeys tall and provides a total of 1,611 car parking spaces, includes 100 disabled and 50 family spaces and motorbike parking.
The plans for the car park have been submitted after a series of other changes have been applied for as well.
Last September, the owners won permission to divide the former House of Fraser and Debenhams department stores into three stores each.
It has been confirmed that Hollywood Bowl will occupy the Riverside level and TK Maxx will occupy the first level of the former House of Fraser unit.
Both are set to open next summer.