Laura Ashley officially opens its doors today, selling home furnishings from its new Bartholomew Street store. Newbury.net first revealed the arrival of Laura Ashley last year, and the refit follows the recent opening of Caffe Nero next door, which has been trading strongly. The two shops were put on the market after Plus Shops finished the £2m revamp of the entrances to the mall.

Six of the best?

The six candidates standing for election in Newbury all declared by the deadline yesterday. They are Richard Henry Ronald Benyon (Con), Nicholas John Cornish (Ind), David John MacMahon (UKIP), David Digby Rendel (Lib Dem), Barrie Charles Singleton (Ind), and Oscar Van Nooijen (Lab). Polling day is May 5.

Sheds to go

A collection of old workshops behind Iceland supermarket are to make way for six town houses. TN Developments has put in plans to demolish the part-timber sheds in Oddfellows Road. Planning consent has yet to be given.

New homes for Turnpike

Sovereign Housing has applied to demolish a row of garages in Cresswell Road, Turnpike, and replace with a terrace of four two bedroom homes. Most of the estate dates from the 1950s, but around 100 new homes have been built on the old school, now called Riverside Gardens.

Centenary helpers

Newbury Racecourse has added two marketing people to support extra activities planned for its centenary year.

Caroline Fleming and Charlotte Berkin both joined straight from the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, and both have an MBA in Equine Business Management.

They both report to Marketing and Sponsorship Manager Lisa Ward, who said: “With our centenary year in full swing, this is already proving an exceptionally busy year for the racecourse. The extra personnel will ensure we can make the most of our opportunities and provide a platform for further growth in future years.”