IMPORTANT EDIT - PLEASE READ! - Unfortunately I was not aware of this until after this gained traction, any MONEY "chipped in" for this petition DOES NOT GO TO US, the website takes it all, so PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY! Otherwise, thank you so much for your support thus far and please keep sharing!

The Butler in Chatham Street is now one of the most well-loved, respected and prolific live music venues in Reading, giving life to a music scene that has been dwindling for the last number of years as many popular live music pubs around the centre of town have closed down, leaving only a few major venues left which continue to put on great, regular gigs.

The Butler is also fortunate enough to be owned by someone who is a great supporter of original artists who are both local and from out of town, something we need to see more of, as it goes without saying that the big artists you know and love would probably never have got anywhere without a venue willing to help them get a foot in the door - The Butler is that door! And as such, we cannot stand by and let it be closed by yet another instance of an application to build flats next to a long-standing bastion of live music.

More info on the plans can be found here - https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/24453199.flats-still-built-back-pub-reading/ but for a concise explanation of the plans I have included the major details below.

The area directly behind the pub has been designated as a 'Major Opportunity Area' which has prompted developers Hamble Residential to submit a plan to build a five-storey block containing 15 apartments. 

However, Hamble Residential's plans were dashed when the project was refused by Reading Borough Council's planning applications committee last November.

At the time, Steve Stanton, the owner of The Butler, argued the planned location of the flats was so close to the venue would "undoubtedly lead to noise complaints." 

Councillors on the committee even agreed, fearing that future noise complaints could put the pub at risk. However, the apartments could still be built as the developers have submitted an appeal to the government's planning inspectorate.

Please help us petition against this ridiculous application and stop this monstrosity being built in possibly the worst place possible, hopefully with enough support we can fight this and help The Butler continue to thrive unaffected by interference as the live music venue it should be!

Many thanks for reading!