AddThis SmartLayers

Apartments complex should be named after newspaper says council

Councillors have called for a £2m apartment complex being built at a regional daily’s former offices to be named after the paper.

The Citizen, Gloucester, moved from its former base at St John’s Lane in 2007, and the site has since been bought by businessman Chance Malone.

Mr Malone, who worked as a paper boy for The Citizen in his youth, has suggested a number of different names for the complex, which overlooks nearby Gloucester Cathedral.

However, members of Gloucester City Council say they want the refurbished building to retain a link to its regional press past.

Gloucester site

Developer Chance Malone outside the Citizen’s former offices which are to be converted to apartments

Councillor Pam Tracey told The Citizen: “As far as I am concerned The Citizen is part of Gloucester’s heritage. I just think it would be nice to honour that history by naming the building after The Citizen.”

“St John’s Lane was like a busy little Fleet Street with people picking up their copies and the paper boys shouting out the headlines. I used to watch the men in the print room through the window when I was a little girl and we would often go along to have a look at the pictures that had been taken that day.”

Paul James, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “We always try to take into account the local history of an area when naming new streets and buildings.

“The new apartments in St John’s Lane will have a stunning view of the cathedral, but it would be nice if we could incorporate something that reflects its former use as a newspaper office.  That is a part of Gloucester’s history and it would be a shame for it to be lost.”

Work is currently taking place to convert the offices into 12 two-bedroom flats, including a duplex apartment with views of the cathedral.

The Citizen is now based on The Oxebode in Gloucester city centre, close to its former home.

Mr Malone said: “I put a couple of names forward that I thought were reasonable but I understand what the council is saying.

“I would have liked something related to the cathedral as the flats will have wonderful views but I am happy to work with the council on an alternative.”

2 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • July 6, 2015 at 6:15 pm
    Permalink

    As a former Citizen journalist I welcome plans to name the development after the newspaper, to keeps its history alive.
    Rose

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(0)