Tony Page asked the following question of the Chair of the Planning Applications Committee:

Proposal for Naming of Sir John Madejski Way

“Following the recent reply by Councillor Ennis to me at Policy Committee on 13 April 2026, (set out below), would the Chair of the Planning Applications Committee confirm that a full report will be brought to Planning Applications Committee in June to allow the Planning Applications Committee, if it deems appropriate, to consider passing the necessary resolution to add the name ‘Sir John Madejski Way’ to all or parts of the A33 Relief Road?”

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READING BOROUGH COUNCIL

POLICY COMMITTEE                                                   13 APRIL 2026

PUBLIC QUESTION NO. 1

Tony Page to ask the Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport:

Proposal for Naming of Sir John Madejski Way

The Lead Member for Climate Strategy and Transport will recollect that the full Council on 24 June 2025 unanimously agreed his resolution following the disgraceful decision of the Greenshaw Trust to remove Sir John's name from the John Madejski Academy.

In light of the final sentence of the resolution (see full text below), which resolves to seek alternative means by which his legacy to our town can be preserved, will he now initiate steps to name the A33 Relief Road, from its junction with the IDR to Junction 11, as Sir John Madejski Way?

[The following motion was moved by Councillor Ennis and seconded by Councillor Barnett-Ward and CARRIED:

Resolved –

This Council is pleased that the ownership of Reading Football Club has been secured and we place on record our thanks and appreciation to the supporters, local MPs and organisations, such as the Sell Before We Dai campaign, led by Caroline Parker and Sarah Turner, Chair of STAR. It is their sheer commitment and energy that has saved our football club and it is right and fitting that we have a civic reception for the leaders of the campaign to save Reading Football Club as a thanks from the people of Reading.

We should also place on record our thanks to Sir John Madejski, a Freeman of the Borough, for his philanthropic work over the decades to make Reading a better place. Reading has benefitted from the work and generosity of Sir John Madejski with the building of the new football stadium in 1998, the establishment of the John Madejski gallery at the Reading museum in 1999 and the creation of the John Madejski Academy in 2006.

This Council notes with dismay the announcement by the Greenshaw Trust’s to remove Sir John’s name from the Academy that he funded and of which he is rightly proud. It strongly disapproves of this attempt to airbrush from history the contribution to Reading of Sir John Madejski and resolves to seek alternative means by which his legacy to our town can be preserved.]

REPLYby Councillor Ennis (Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport):

As Council noted in its Motion on 24 June 2025, Sir John Madejski worked for decades to make Reading a better place, which has also been acknowledged by this Council through the award of the Honorary Freeman title.

I therefore welcome the question and the suggestion for further recognising the contributions that Sir John has made to Reading, which has a particular connection to sport and culture and I understand why renaming a street, particularly one as significant as the A33 Relief Road, is a positive way to recognise these contributions.

The Council’s Street Naming and Numbering Protocol requires any street renaming to be formally approved by the Planning Applications Committee, following consultation with Ward Councillors and local occupiers.

I will be receiving further briefings from officers on this process and to assess the implications for making these changes before a report is taken forward. As part of this process consideration will be given to any other options which could give appropriate recognition to the contribution Sir John has made to the town.   

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REPLY by the Chair of the Planning Applications Committee (Councillor Gavin):

“Thank you to Tony Page for his question and reminding us of the commitment made at full Council in June 2025 to find an appropriate and lasting way to mark the very considerable contribution Sir John Madjeski has made to this town and the further commitment made at Policy Committee on 13 April 2026 to initiate a consultation on the re-naming, (and as you have pointed out it isn’t the ‘re-naming of’ it is the ‘naming of’ because actually it currently does not have a name and so that should be the ‘naming of’) the A33 to ‘Sir John Madjeski Way’.

I can confirm that a consultation with the 90 plus businesses along the A33 will commence after the local elections; this will be followed by consultation with the Ward Councillors of Coley, Katesgrove and Whitley wards. However, the timetable will not allow for a thorough consultation to be completed and for any responses to be fully considered, and a report prepared in time for the Planning Applications Committee meeting on 3 June as requested in your question.  But I can assure you it is our intention to bring a report to a Planning Committee in the early Autumn.”

Tony Page asked the following supplementary question of the Chair of the Planning Applications Committee:

“I do think that it is important that we do establish the fact that the A33 relief road does not have a name. Apparently, there are some officers who contend that it is named and that needs clearly to be put to bed one way or the other. If there is a consultation, as you have set out, I would be grateful if you could confirm that it would be on the basis of a positive proposal to add the name ‘Sir John Madjeski Way’ and, lastly, bearing in mind, Chair, that Sir John was 85 yesterday, it would be nice to get this done whilst he is still with us. Would you not agree?”

REPLYby the Chair of the Planning Applications Committee (Councillor Gavin):

“Thank you Mr Page. I can confirm all of the points you have made and agree that we try and do this in as speedy but thorough a way as possible, so that we can get this sorted as soon as possible. So thank you for your question. Thank you for reminding us. Thank you.”