NO.10 MARCH
To advertise 0118 405 0228 or email advertising@mywokingham.co.uk
MyWoodley CELEBRATING THE BOROUGH OF WOKINGHAM
R
www.mywokingham.co.uk
Demolition set to take a piece of Woodley’s history PHOTOS BY PAUL KING
I
t will be a sad day for the residents of Woodley as an iconic building, where parts for Spitfires and Hurricanes were made during World War Two, is demolished. The historic significance of the building, located on Headley Road, cannot be understated, as it holds memories of the brave women who worked tirelessly to support the war effort. A campaign group has been fighting to save the building, but unfortunately, their efforts have been in vain as demolition workers have already started moving in. Wokingham Borough Council’s planning committee unanimously rejected Goya’s plans in June 2022 and the building, first built for Miles Aircraft production in the 1930s, was made a Non-Designated Heritage Asset (NDHA). A petition of more than 4,500 names supported the building’s retention. Historic England (HE) had refused an
attempt to have the building given listed status, saying too little of the original fabric of the building remained since it had been altered over the years.
The site will soon be cleared, taking with it a piece of Woodley’s history that will be lost forever. A spokesman said: “It is a sobering reminder of the importance of preserving our heritage and the sacrifices made by those who came before us. As the old building is torn down, let us take a moment to remember the role it played during a dark period in our his-
tory and honour the memory of those who worked within its walls.” The building in Woodley, used to make the Battle of Britain aircraft, will make way for five modern industrial buildings. The Adwest building as we all know was formerly the Miles Aircraft factory that still stands proud in the Woodley skyline a landmark that will be smashed apart in the weeks to come. The factory made nearly 6,000 aircraft during World War Two for the war effort including the Hawk. Many roads on the new estate that was Woodley airfield during the second World War have been named after the aircraft made at the nearby factory - just a little reminder that aircraft were built in Woodley. You can view some of the local history at the local aviation museum in Woodley which is run by local volunteers.
Vandalism and graffiti at Woodley park
W
oodley Town Council was disappointed to report that the metal panels at the top of the canopy trail slide in the play area in Woodford Park have been vandalised. The cost to repair the damage, which appears to have been caused by bolt cutters, will cost £2,500. There was also extensive graffiti and obscene images written and drawn on various areas of the slide and along the wooden fencing in the toddler area, as well as bottles of baby oil dispensed down the slide tube. They will be contacting the local
schools to make them aware of the vandalism and continued graffiti and request for schools and parents to discuss with their young people the importance of respecting our parks and facilities and the community of Woodley. The incident has been reported to the police. If you have any information that might help identify the culprit(s) please do get in touch with us or contact the police. A spokesman said: “Please can we also ask residents to report any incidents of anti-social behaviour or vandalism in our parks and at our facilities to us or to the police. Thank you.”
