The council will spend £32,000 replacing failing hammer throwing cage facilities at Palmer Park, using funds from a 765-home former Toys R Us development.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) will use Section 106 receipts from the development at 42 Kenavon Drive, the former Toys R Us and Homebase site.

The developer gave £353,509 to the council as a leisure contribution as part of the council’s approval of the 765-home development.

READ MORE: 765-home development at former Toys R Us and Homebase site given green light

RBC has now agreed to allocate the remaining £32,270.38 of this S106 funding to replacing the throwing cage at Palmer Park.

The plans were approved by delegated decision.

If the throwing cage is not replaced, Palmer Park will lose Track Mark accreditation as it will no longer comply with UK and World Athletics guidelines.

Additionally, the dimensions of the throwing cage do not comply with British Athletics requirements.

The throwing cage has reached the end of its life and will be replaced with an upgraded Thor 9 cage, which is World Athletics certified.

The cage is regularly used by Reading Athletics Club and Reading University, as well as several schools who use the facilities at Palmer Park for P.E lessons and sports days.

Palmer Park also hosts Berkshire School Competition events, Wokingham and Districts School events and other events ranging from regional to county level.

Palmer Park

Palmer Park

The park is getting a major leisure revamp, with a new swimming pool and leisure centre building coming to Palmer Park.

READ MORE: Plans for new pools at Rivermead and Palmer Park given green light

The plans for the 25 metre, six-lane community pool and gym were approved on March 31 this year.