| Description | [The Commissioners were appointed by the Reading Improvement Act 1785. This Act's full title indicates its functions: "An Act for Paving the Footways in the Borough of Reading in the County of Berks; for better repairing cleansing lighting and watching the Streets Lanes Passages and Places in the said Borough; and for removing Incroachments Obstructions and Annoyances therefrom and preventing the like for the future" (25 George III cap.85).The initial paving of the town was completed in 1787. Gas street lighting was introduced in 1819.In 1826 the Commissioners' powers were expanded by the Reading Improvement Act 1826, a private Act, entitled "An Act for better paving lighting cleansing watching and otherwise improving the Borough of Reading in the County of Berks" (7 George IV cap.LVI). Their new powers included that of compulsory purchase of property.The Commissioners were responsible for policing the town by means of Reading Watch until a borough police force was established in February 1836. In 1850 the Commissioners' powers passed to the newly formed Local Board of Health.] |