THE summer of 1975 saw the future of a historic building in Reading town centre ‘balancing on a knife edge’.

The Reading Dispensary Trust building, in Chain Street, was standing in the way of developers looking to create the site for Heelas department store.

The John Lewis Partnership, who owned the building, were worried the if Reading Borough Council insisted on too stringent planning conditions, the multi-million-pound development would become unprofitable.

To counter local opposition, it was decided to not make a decision, a technique beloved of politicians to this day, but as any local shopper would know the store was built and another historic town centre building was demolished.

Bus fares were increased 45 years ago, and customers decided to vote with their feet, 305,000 less passengers travelled as a consequence.

Reading’s Transport Manager, Royston Jenkins, dropped the bombshell during a council meeting.

He added that his was the first loss of footfall in seven years.

Another increase in fares could not be ruled out by the end of the year, he added: “It would be worth while the committee considering putting up fares by a small amount.”

The iconic headline ‘Man bites dog’ took a different turn in Winnersh, when ‘Man bitten by snake’ appeared in the Chronicle.

British Rail worker, Tony Cary, was bitten on his wrist by an adder whist cutting the trackside grass near Winnersh railway station.

After he was rushed to hospital for treatment a Southern Rail spokesperson told the Chronicle: “It is not uncommon for adders to be sighted there, but it is the first time that any of the staff have been bitten.”

A new traffic light system was installed in Reading town centre, but not on the roadside, the Kennet and Avon canal solved the notorious ‘S-bend’ stretch near High Bridge (Duke Street) by installing a ‘push button’ request device.

Many canal-going craft had become stuck in the area and the problems had also been increased as the span over Bridge Street had been strengthened during WWII, which had lowered the clearance for boats.

Discontent with the European Parliament was discussed at a student’s seminar at Reading University in 1975.

Guest speaker, Douglas Stoddart (Liberal), told the audience: “Brussels threatens individual freedom and the European Parliament is just a talking shop.”

A weekly feature in most local papers in the 1970’s included a full page of wedding photos, which gave details the new happy couples big day.

Reading’s speedway squad were facing three tough fixtures in 1975, as they were due to ride against Pool Pirates, Halifax and Belle Vue.

Six points from these matches could have given them a boost up the championship table and potentially a chance of winning the league title.