St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church opposite Princess Square in Bracknell is getting a visible upgrade.
The parish has planned changes for several years: new stone steps to match the square while keeping the ramp for accessibility; a south-side extension adding a disabled toilet, offices and meeting space; a new external ramp to the higher-level hall; and roof repairs and new rainwater pipes to fix leaks.
Now the focus is the main entrance - the bit thousands of shoppers and bus passengers see every day.
The parish already has permission for larger glass doors to open the church up "physically and visually", replacing the dark, solid entrance set back from Braccan Walk.
That permission was partly carried out, but the church encountered problems fitting the glazed side-panels. Rather than abandon the upgrade, it is asking the council to approve a tweaked door design.
The revised entrance keeps a broad glazed doorway but drops the glazed side-lights in favour of a laminated aluminium-framed glass door set. The doors would be automatic with discreet sensors, with a manual override and secure locking, and hinges would have safety covers to reduce the risk of trapped fingers.
If approved, the lighter, more transparent frontage should show life inside the church and give this familiar town-centre landmark a fresher, more welcoming face.
Ted O'Neill, Local Democracy Reporter
