Street could be named after former mayor

The late Ms Tickner was described as "hardworking" by her fellow councillors

A call has been made for a street to be named after a former town mayor.

Reading Borough councillors suggested the Old Power Station development should be named after the town's late mayor Bet Tickner, during a planning meeting on 29 May.

Two previously suggested names were rejected, one of which was Electric Avenue.

The idea received unanimous support from councillors.

The Old Power Station between the River Thames and Vastern Road will be replaced by a development of 209 flats

The Old Power Station in Vastern Road used to be a SSE power station south of the River Thames.

Developer Berkeley Homes is set to replace it with more than 200 apartments.

The company suggested the site's address name should either be Electric Avenue in memory of its former use, or Albury Way, after the architect of the original building Frederick William Albury.

Electric Avenue is also the title of Eddy Grant's 1983 single, which reached number two and references the 1981 Brixton riots.

After the councillors had rejected both suggestions, Mr Davies proposed that the street should be called Bet Tickner Way.

Ms Tickner was a councillor for 16 consecutive years, from 2002-2018, and also the Mayor of Reading from 2006-2007.

The council learned of her passing on 10 January, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor Richard Davies described Ms Tickner as "a hardworking" person who had cared about the area and her constituents.

The street name will be considered by the geographic information system team before an official decision is made.