CAMPAIGNERS are calling for the protection of a notorious town centre eyesore because its destruction will tear a gap in the visible history of Reading.

Nick Cooksey, of Newtown, has launched a petition to try to save the Kings Point building, in King’s Road, from being demolished and replaced with an 18-storey tower block containing 100 homes.

The campaign is trying to get 750 signatures to spark a debate at a borough council meeting and Mr Cooksey hopes the “once stylish modernist structure” could be converted into an art gallery as well as providing shops and restaurants.

He said: “I am aware of the fact that Kings Point isn’t many peoples favourite building, to say the least, yet I believe its destruction would tear a gap in the visible history of Reading.

“There are fewer and fewer buildings from this era of the 20th Century left.

“Kings Point is the only large building from its era left in that part of Reading. It is, after the Huntley and Palmer building and Wesley Methodist Church, the oldest large landmark in the vicinity.”

But his sympathetic view of the building is not shared by neighbours around the town, with many taking to social media to condemn the structure as an “eyesore”.

John Harris wrote on Facebook: “That ugly block should be turned to dust.”

Kelly Ferguson added: “Eyesore, such a shame to see it all the time next to some lovely modern flats.”

The building, which is owned by CNM Estates, is currently being used as a car park, car wash, tyre centre and taxi office, but planning bosses have given the go-ahead for a number of schemes which have never got off the ground.

CNM Estates’ development manager Nik Dyer told The Midweek that plans for the building, which including demolishing it and building a new state-of-the-art residential block, will be unveiled next month. The proposals also include commercial units along the ground floor and public areas fronting the canal.

He said: “We have a fantastic architect working on it. Our building can really improve on what’s there. It’s not the ideal view for everyone around the site. It’s hopefully going to be a stunning design that will win over a lot of people.”

The firm is hoping to unveil the new plans at a public meeting in November where neighbours can look at the designs and give feedback to the architects before a formal planning application is submitted.

Visit www.savekingspoint.org.uk to sign Mr Cooksey’s petition.