A READING MP is calling for an "urgent meeting" to try and save Reading Gaol after it was confirmed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) it will be put back on the market.

A MoJ spokesperson confirmed yesterday (May 18) that the prison will be put back on the property market.

It comes after Reading Borough Council put forward a £2.6 million bid - backed by a passionate arts and cultural community in Reading and beyond.

Rather than withdrawing its bid at this time, the council is instead making a public commitment to keep it on the table in the hope that MoJ Ministers will intervene and re-consider the advice of its marketing agents.

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

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Reacting to the latest news from the MoJ, he said: "I'm concerned about the developments regarding the gaol, I'm calling for an urgent meeting between the Justice Secretary, RBC, myself and Alok Sharma, the MP for Reading West.

"I believe this project is too important to be allowed to fall by the wayside and I hope we can thrash out an agreement.

"The gaol is a vital part of our heritage and should be saved and used as an arts hub."

The council published details of its bid online yesterday to show what is possible to achieve with the site.

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It included a space for theatre, dance and music and also outdoor exhibitions.

The gaol, a Grade II listed site, has been in the spotlight recently after street artist 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.