Newbury's new cinema is on schedule for a November opening. Sound proofing and air conditioning systems are currently being installed. At the weekend, a huge mobile crane (shown in our picture), lifted the air conditioning units onto the roof of the complex. The anticipated opening date is November 6th.

I am gobsmacked at the size of the Kennet Shopping sign.....Why does it have to be that big, it's not in a position to be seen from space so why can't they be a bit more subtle. Mind you, judging by the final view of the cinema, subtle isn't in the dictionary.
I wonder where the what's on and forthcoming attractions signs will go.

I don't think anyone could legitimately say the building was sympathetic to the surroundings.

Quoted from brian

I am gobsmacked at the size of the Kennet Shopping sign.....Why does it have to be that big, it's not in a position to be seen from space so why can't they be a bit more subtle. Mind you, judging by the final view of the cinema, subtle isn't in the dictionary.
I wonder where the what's on and forthcoming attractions signs will go.

I think one of the reasons for the sign to be that big is so it will attract attention from flying planes/ helicopters and any visitors from out of space wishing to do their shopping in Newbury or catch a flick at the new moving picture show. I thought that was pretty obvious Brian! Something that expensive – the cinema – has to attract outside of Newbury to make it pay.

Quoted from GMR

I think one of the reasons for the sign to be that big is so it will attract attention from flying planes/ helicopters and any visitors from out of space wishing to do their shopping in Newbury or catch a flick at the new moving picture show. I thought that was pretty obvious Brian! Something that expensive – the cinema – has to attract outside of Newbury to make it pay.

I would agree with you except that the sign has nothing to do with the cinema. It is clearly a Kennet Shopping sign which in my book is not the cinema

Quoted from brian

I am gobsmacked at the size of the Kennet Shopping sign......

I'm sorry your gob has been smacked Brian but, in actual fact, the sign isn't that big. I think the 'sign' is the logo, what it's on is big and it matches those at the other entrances, other than the fact it is not illuminated. That's how I view it anyway.  

Quoted from brian

I would agree with you except that the sign has nothing to do with the cinema. It is clearly a Kennet Shopping sign which in my book is not the cinema

Yes.... but I see a flaw in your argument. By attracting people to the kennet centre people will step back in amazement when they see the new cinema and totally forget about the Kennet Centre... thus scoring an own goal in favour of the Cinema. How about that for an answer to a tricky question?

Quoted from 133

I'm sorry your gob has been smacked Brian but, in actual fact, the sign isn't that big. I think the 'sign' is the logo, what it's on is big and it matches those at the other entrances, other than the fact it is not illuminated. That's how I view it anyway.  

That's not big.????... Compared with a 747, that's true but compared with every other shopping sign in Newbury, it is enormous. The whole blue panel is part of the sign, so you can't get away with pretending it's not. It might match the other entrances  for content but not size. Equally, that doesn't make the other signs OK in my book. They are about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

Quoted from brian

It might match the other entrances  for content but not size.

I wouldn't have thought it was bigger than the others. Not the one on Bart Street anyway

If you compare it with the visual here http://www.newbury.net/forum/m-1245080095/s-15/ the logo looks smaller in real life. That must be a first  

To be honest does it make any difference what size it is?

Quoted from GMR

To be honest does it make any difference what size it is?

Well - the bigger it is the more of the cinema it obscures - must be a plus.

On the other hand the sign is not exactly pretty so the smaller the better...

On balance it doesn't seem to matter much, a garish sign on a garish building.

Quoted from blackdog

Well - the bigger it is the more of the cinema it obscures - must be a plus.

On the other hand the sign is not exactly pretty so the smaller the better...

On balance it doesn't seem to matter much, a garish sign on a garish building.

To be honest I think it looks alright. However, I do accept that it shows up the surrounding building. Maybe they will pull them all down to match the cinema

Quoted from GMR

To be honest I think it looks alright. However, I do accept that it shows up the surrounding building. Maybe they will pull them all down to match the cinema

They will probably pull them down - but there's no chance that WBC planners would allow any sort of matching development. 'Contrast and clash' seems to be their motto.

Quoted from blackdog

They will probably pull them down - but their's no chance that WBC planners would allow any sort of matching development. 'Contrast and clash' seems to be their motto.

On the evidence you seem to be right

Quoted from 133

in actual fact, the sign isn't that big. I think the 'sign' is the logo, what it's on is big

Yeah, but it says "Kennet Shopping" right at the bottom, does it not?  So it's not just the logo, it's the entire panel.

Yes it's enormous, now what?

Quoted from blackdog

They will probably pull them down - but there's no chance that WBC planners would allow any sort of matching development. 'Contrast and clash' seems to be their motto.

That's an outrageous slur against WBC!

Next, you'll be suggesting that the council wants to put a Louvre-style extension on the museum, or whispering that they'll encourage a 100 ft tall block of flats in Park Way.

Quoted from Muddler

That's an outrageous slur against WBC!

Next, you'll be suggesting that the council wants to put a Louvre-style extension on the museum, or whispering that they'll encourage a 100 ft tall block of flats in Park Way.

I see you are in the spirit of improvement

Quoted from 133

Yes it's enormous, now what?

Pull it down and put one up that the individual appreciates

Quoted from GMR

Pull it down and put one up that the individual appreciates

Yes of course! Which particular individual would that be?

Quoted from 133

Yes of course! Which particular individual would that be?

The one that complains of course... Silly!

Quoted from GMR

The one that complains of course... Silly!

So it's just a few on this forum then!

Quoted from 133

So it's just a few on this forum then!

Probably..... but if they didn't have that to complain about then they'd find something else.... be grateful that it is the sign that is getting it and not another object or human patsy.

Quoted from 133

So it's just a few on this forum then!

Probably the tip of the iceberg but as the planners have approved the sign, all we can do is grin and bear it and wonder how the WBC planning department thought processes work. I'm also not sure why a simple shopping centre needs such a pretentious logo or whatever you chose to call it. I'm sure they (the owners/board of directors) spent a fortune with the heraldic society to formulate but the meaning of it is lost to the majority of shoppers.
I would lay fifty quid that a poll on the door of Kennet Shopping asking...
Did they see the sign in the middle of the huge blue panel?
If yes, what did it mean and what are the local connections ?
(No rephrased WBC loaded questions please)
The result would be.....
I think so
and
No idea

Quoted from brian

Probably the tip of the iceberg but as the planners have approved the sign, all we can do is grin and bear it and wonder how the WBC planning department thought processes work. I'm also not sure why a simple shopping centre needs such a pretentious logo or whatever you chose to call it. I'm sure they (the owners/board of directors) spent a fortune with the heraldic society to formulate but the meaning of it is lost to the majority of shoppers.
I would lay fifty quid that a poll on the door of Kennet Shopping asking...
Did they see the sign in the middle of the huge blue panel?
If yes, what did it mean and what are the local connections ?
(No rephrased WBC loaded questions please)
The result would be.....
I think so
and
No idea

Pretentious? Is it? Heraldic society? What have they got to do with it? Local connections? Actually yes. It represents racing silks

Quoted from 133

Pretentious? Is it? Heraldic society? What have they got to do with it? Local connections? Actually yes. It represents racing silks

There you go then. Totally meaningless.

We need a "Subsidised by West Berkshire" logo above those four machine gun positions on the top floor.

Howsabout a reduction on the ticket prices upon production of suitable I.D. and your Community Tax bill?

Just a thought.


Threep.

Quoted from 133

Yes it's enormous, now what?

Actually it's 'they' as a second panel has been stuck on the bus station side equally as large. They actually dwarf the cinema. Didn't see the second on the artist's impression.

Quoted from 133

Yes it's enormous, now what?

Actually it's 'they' as a second panel has been stuck on the bus station side equally as large. They actually dwarf the cinema. Didn't see the second on the artist's impression.

Quoted from brian

Actually it's 'they' as a second panel has been stuck on the bus station side equally as large. They actually dwarf the cinema. Didn't see the second on the artist's impression.

The second panel is slightly further along than where the artists impression stops.

Quoted from brian

Actually it's 'they' as a second panel has been stuck on the bus station side equally as large. They actually dwarf the cinema. Didn't see the second on the artist's impression.

I think it looks good, shame about the rest. Maybe they'll pull the rest down when they do their next phrase.