READING Gaol has sparked interest from across the pond as the New York Times is planning to cover the campaign.

The Grade II listed building was put on the market by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).

Reading Borough Council put forward a £2.6 million bid backed by a passionate arts and cultural community in Reading.

However, a MoJ spokesperson confirmed on May 18 that the prison will be put back on the property market.

Reading East MP, Matt Rodda, has been campaigning to save the prison and turn it into an arts hub.

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He explained he has been interviewed this week by a correspondent from the New York Times.

He said: “I am delighted that the New York Times wants to report the campaign to save Reading Gaol.

"The gaol is a world heritage site and the international media interest underlines just how important it is and it clearly shows the potential benefits of saving the gaol and turning it into an arts and heritage hub.

“The media interest shows that American tourists could be very interested in coming to Reading to see the gaol and I hope this international interest in the project will help move discussions forward.

“I have asked the Justice Secretary to meet me, Reading Borough Council and the MP for Reading West and I hope the Ministry of Justice reconsiders its approach following the interest in the US in this unique historic building.

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“I also hope the American media interest may lead to help from the New York arts community.”

The Reading Chronicle led a six month campaign back in 2019 to try and garner support from the community to save the site as a community asset.

The gaol has recently been in the spotlight after street artists Banksy painted a mural on one of its walls.

It showed a prisoner escaping from the prison using a rope of bedsheets tied to a typewriter.