PARKING IN VALE ROAD
We’ve been working with the Prayer Room and the businesses in Shirley Ave re parking in Vale Road/Shirley Ave. Parking Enforcement have been regularly visiting with us sending photos of vehicles illegally parked. Last Friday Helen visited during Prayer time and no one was parking on Vale Road – success. The Prayer Room worshippers have changed their behaviour. However that still leaves the Shirley Road businesses. Helen met with the owner of the site (it was previously owned by Medina Dairy). He confirmed that the large second hand car dealership is moving out this weekend with a solar panel wholesale company moving in. This should significantly relive the parking of the used cars in Hanover Way, West and East Crescent, Vale Road and Shirely Ave. We discussed how the forecourt of the incoming business could be used on Fridays for worshippers to relieve congestion. He explained how he is happy for people, eg visiting the GP surgery to park and Helen suggested signage made this clear. Helen is establishing the possibility of patients parking in the car park by the NWCA and the Family Hub off Hanover Way. It is just a two minute walk through the alleyway from there to the Surgery. She has established it is NOT RBWM land, and Alison is establishing with the NWCA if they have ALL of this car park or just part, as we believe. In conclusion, its improving, its been a very slow process, and we hope there is more improvement to come.
Residents have expressed concern at the Dedworth end of Vale Road. Co-op delivery lorries park on the double yellow lines. However there is nowhere else for them to park so pedestrians and drivers will have to remain alert. Helen is discussing with the shop owners facing Dedworth Road re drivers parking in front of the shops. This is not council land so RBWM has no jurisdiction. Helen is discussing with the shop owners, mainly KFC, what can be done, in particular the Deliveroo scooters. Once again pedestrians need to be vigilant when walking along this corner.
FOSTERING
RBWM has had a big push during Foster Parenting Fortnight to encourage more residents to become Foster Families. She has approached the businesses in the Ward asking them to put up posters, or leave them in the waiting room area. The businesses responded positively so you may well see posters along Dedworth Road and Manor Farm Close. To find out more www.afcfostering.org.uk.
FOOTPATH LINKING ST LEONARDS HILL AND HEMWOOD CRESCENT
Helen has been liaising with officers re the opening of this path. It was closed over the winter due to running water. They have now deemed it safe and it has reopened. Unless the source of water can be found and stopped it will have to close once the freezing weather is upon us – some many months hence I hope!
CORPORATE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL
Helen has been elected vice chair for the forthcoming municipal year. At the May meeting she raised the issues of funding of care through the sale of the home and the Community Infrastructure Levy money/Affordable homes and how has it been used/monitoring of consultations? See https://youtu.be/rYH3f-XMm9M?t=408
BUS CONSULTATIONS
Helen has been pushing for months re the results of the bus consultation, and she’s raised this at Cabinet twice. The link to the results is now published https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/supported-bus-services-consultation However as Helen pointed out at Cabinet how do the public know. She got agreement from the Leader going forward that Press Releases would go out informing the public when consultations had been published. She is trying to get this consultation out in a Press Release.
Helen has been in discussions with officers and the Champion for Consultations and how consultations can be better planned, better feedback methods, better ways of engaging with the target audience.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY CHAMPION
Helen continues to liaise with organisations. She links Centrica volunteers with community needs such as helping with the Windsor cemeteries and litter picking. She was approached by the Baptist Church in Smiths Lane for help with their front gardens. She has approached Tivoli to help with a couple of “blitz” sessions a year.
GARDEN IN BLOOM
We are looking out for entrants as we walk the Ward https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/community-and-living/garden-bloom The deadline is 31 July and you can enter yourself, your friends and neighbours, and we will also enter residents. Some gardens are at their peak now so let us know so we visit them now rather than when they are past their best.
VERGE ON THE WILD SIDE
We are encouraging residents and businesses to put themselves forward for this initiative. https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/verge-on-the-wild-side We’ve identified suitable plots in Dedworth Road and Clewer Hill Road and Helen and Cllr Karen Davies are in discussions with Keeler re the entrance to Perrycroft. With Helen’s links to Corporates she can more easily arrange for volunteers to undertake any initial work preparing the plot.
YUSRA UNITES FOR HUMANITY
YUSRA held an event in NWCA in Hanover Way which Alison attended. It was full of stalls, food and lovely things to buy. A lovely event. Helen helped promote the event on the Residents’ Newsletter and on local social media.
LEGOLAND
We both attended the opening of the Woodland Village. This has been a long time acoming. Half term week was the opening week. Traffic has been bad on roads at opening time. Helen has spoken with LEGOLAND who have assured us over visitor numbers are not up. It appears the flow of traffic the years how this would reduce traffic congestion so it was very disappointed that on the week it opened – half term – the traffic at opening times on our local roads was particularly bad. Helen is in discussions with LEGOLAND as to why this could be and has contacted RBWM Highways re the lights at the Prince Albert junction in case they need adjusting. Alison with Cllr Amy Tisi, lead member for Windsor below.
OPENING OF THE PRINCE ALBERT PUB
Although not quite in our ward, it’s in Clewer East – but the Prince Albert is on the opposite side of the road from our ward and well used by many of our residents. It’s now under new management and has been fully refurbished. Alison attended the opening night. The hotel has 7 rooms and these are open from 7th June. The kitchen is yet to open but will be open soon. It’s great to have our local pub open again and looking so good! The photo of the outside of the pub is our main photo for this post.
WINDSOR & ETON FC
Alison attended the last game of the season against Reading U23s – Windsor & Eton FC won 7-0. It was a great end to a fantastic season. The win means that the team will now move up a league and will play in the Combined Counties League Division One which is amazing after one season. Well done to the team.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
The Voluntary Sector have come together under the group xxxxx. This involves the WAM Get Involved, the Berkshire Community Foundation, the One Borough, Relisous. Thse groups used to meet separately Helen attending most times. There was lots of duplication so its now much more efficient and we belive more effective. This month over 50 organisations were represented at the inaugural meeting.
COUNTER FRAUD TEAM
All Councillors were invited to meet this team. To Helen’s surprise only four attended. They are commissioned to help us detect any fraud, recoup monies due and set up robust processes. It is expected they will more than pay their way. This service is in the 2023/25 budget.
UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
Consultation events 4/5/6/ June on Affordable Housing https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/planning-guidance/emerging-supplementary-planning-documents-spds/affordable-housing-delivery-supplementary-planning-document
Rock the Rec Saturday 6th July – tickets available now www.rocktherec.co.uk
Eid al-Adha Sunday 16 June Dedworth Manor 9-10
CONSULTATIONS
Cycling in pedestrianized zones Windsor and Maidenhead, deadline 5 June https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/consultation-to-vary-pspo-for-cycling-2
Affordable Housing Delivery – SPD – deadline 20 June. Consultation events 4/5/6 June https://www.rbwm.gov.uk/home/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/planning-guidance/emerging-supplementary-planning-documents-spds/affordable-housing-delivery-supplementary-planning-document
RESIDENTS ISSUES
Planning, parking, water leaks, housing, rats.
MEETINGS/EVENTS
Nahida Pitha Utsob – invited by a resident to NWCA. Briefing of Independents Group on Finances. Voluntary Community Groups. Service Lead – Economic Growth. Fuel Poverty Training, TVP, Abbott, Council, Abri, Footpath team, Briefing Cllrs on finance, Cabinet, Counter Fraud Team, Equalites and Engagement Communities Officer, Volunteer and Community Development Officer, Counter Fraud Team, the Royal Windsor Racecourse, Keeler, Centrica Corporate Volunteering Manager, Tivoli x 2, Planning, NWCA committee meeting.