The regeneration proposals have stepped up a pace as Wokingham Borough Council moves forward with its exciting plans for the Carnival Pool leisure development.
Last night, (Thursday September 24) the borough council’s decision-making executive approved moving forward with pre-let negotiations for the leisure unit located on the ground floor of the new multi-storey car park at the Carnival Pool site.
The council is in discussions with a number of interested parties including American Amusements Limited (AAL), who currently run the existing Big Apple bowling alley on the site, about moving into the new unit once it is completed during the first phase of the project.
The Carnival Pool regeneration was further supported earlier this month when the South East Reserve Forces Cadet Association’s (SERFCA), currently based at the Carnival Pool site, received planning consent for a brand new facility in Elizabeth Park. This will be a fantastic facility for the town’s young people.
Cllr Philip Mirfin, executive member for regeneration and communities said: "It’s exciting to see this all come together as it will allow us to start delivering the town centre our residents deserve. Over the coming months people will start to see things happening around the Carnival Pool site as we carry out a series of ground investigations and surveys.
"We are also going to be carrying out some works on the old Wellington House car parks as these will be used next year to provide temporary public parking whilst the new car park is built. We are making sure we manage all the surveys and works carefully so they don’t impact on car park and leisure users which will remain open throughout."
Further details on alternative parking will be released early next year once a build contractor is in place and the detailed construction programme has been agreed.
The new multi-storey car park at the Carnival Pool site has been enabled through the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnerships Growth Deals funding which helps support projects benefitting the local area and economy.
