THERE’s no doubt people have been anxiously watching Jackson’s Corner, one of the best-loved buildings in town, to make sure the facade remains true to its history.

But the councillor for Mapledurham caused a ripple of giggles in the council chamber last week when she suggested that residents in the proposed new flats should be made to install window shutters instead of curtains.

Cllr Isobel Ballsdon made her suggestion for the “iconic” building’s frontage last week as permission was granted to adapt the upper floors into 18 flats.

“If all the applicants were to put in their own curtains we would be left with this higgledy piggledy view of the frontage so I wonder if we could get the condition of having window shutters put in,” she said.

Her colleagues on the planning committee giggled, and Cllr Chris Maskell called her comments “a step too far”. He said: “I enjoyed that councillor, but I really don’t know what to say here.”

Cllr Jan Gavin said: “It’s a bit nanny state to say to people that the only way they can dress their windows is for us to decide what looks good and for how long.”

And planning officer Julie Williams said since Jacksons is not a listed building the council had no rights to impose such a condition.

The department store was founded by Edward Jackson in September 1875 with its flagship branch occupying Jackson’s Corner on Kings Road, just south of Market Place, until its closure in December 2013.

At the meeting permission was granted to applicant Capita Hall Ltd to adapt the upper area of the Victorian building into 18 residential flats, and demolish part of the rear commercial space which will be used to construct a new block of 11 flats.

The applicant will also create a courtyard at the rear. Up to 25 per cent of the flats will be under the affordable housing scheme and the characteristics of the building will be retained. After the vote, Cllr Maskell added: “It fills me with excitement that we have been able to retain that corner of Reading.”