ONE of Newbury’s greatest eyesores could be removed, if planners give permission for the Sterling Industrial estate to be demolished, newbury.net can reveal.

West Berkshire Council has received an application from London-based Whitefox Properties to flatten the cable tower and old workshops in Kings Road, and turn the site into a new housing estate.

The site was likely to be earmarked for redevelopment under a new local blueprint identifying housing sites to be developed next year.

Bulldoze that annexe

A woman who built an annexe to house her elderly father has been told to dismantle it because she didn’t have planning permission. Karen Bolt-Lawrence of Bishops Green was told to make a retrospective application for the single-storey building at the rear of the house in Greenham Croft, which was then rejected by West Berkshire Council.

Cancer unit campaign continues

Councillors are holding a debate on the future of the Charles Clore cancer unit, which is to be moved in a bid to stem mounting NHS debts. Newbury Primary Care Trust has been told to find £1m of savings to help plug a £15m black hole in health spending in Milton Keynes.

West Berkshire Council’s Health Scrutiny Panel has some influence over the Trust, and is taking soundings before it decides how to act.

Tory Cllr Tony Linden said: “We want to hear the views of all key stakeholders, and have invited 12 witnesses to speak at the meeting.”

The meeting is next Friday at 6.30pm.

New town minimart

The former Elf garage on the corner of Faraday Road should soon be home to a parade of shops and convenience food store, with parking spaces to capture passing trade from the busy A4 road.

More homes for Stroud Green

David Wilson Homes is trying to squeeze an extra nine homes onto the new estate being built by the entrance to Newbury racecourse.

Camps’ flutter

Camp Hopson department store is asking for permission to change its Northbrook Street frontage by adding giant banners. The three banners will give the new-look store – undergoing a £6m redevelopment – more visibility. But the frontage is heavily protected and will have to get past tough conservation rules.