Six Victorian houses in Newbury’s Craven Road are to be demolished to make way for 44 flats. Renaissance Habitat of Thatcham has lodged plans for the new complex of two-bedroom apartments, featuring underground parking to get around the street parking issue.

Thai break

New plans have been revealed to turn the Wharf Street Hall into a Thai restaurant. Newbury Leisure Pension Fund bought the half-demolished building earlier this year, and needs permission to put on a new roof.

Meter feat

New pay machines will be installed in the Kennet Centre by February. The pay and display method is being phased out in favour of machines where you pay on foot, on your way back to the car. At other car parks, new solar-powered pay and display machines are due to be installed over the next two years.

Life of grime

Shopkeepers have called for a litter pick to get rid of the increasing number of half-eaten burgers and fast food packaging in town. Newbury Retail Association also said that graffiti was getting worse, despite efforts to get convicted thugs to clean up.