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Take that first step to safety and regain control of your life
We
are working with The Dash Charity to remind victims of domestic abuse
that support is always available to help them take that first step to
safety and regain control of their lives.
As part of 16 days of national activism following White Ribbon Day,
we are also raising awareness of the different forms domestic abuse can
take, whether it be physical, sexual, violent or threatening behaviour,
controlling or coercive behaviour, economic, psychological, emotional
or other abuse.
Within
the Royal Borough, there were 2,585 domestic abuse-related incidents
recorded by police during 2021/22 – an average of seven reports a day.
The Dash Charity received 947 referrals into their adult support service
and 124 referrals into their children’s programme.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, support is available 24/7.
- In
an emergency, always call 999. If you can’t speak, call 999, listen to
the call handler and answer questions, either by pushing buttons or
coughing. If prompted, press 55 to let the operator know it’s a genuine
emergency.
-
If you don’t want to speak to the police, The Dash Charity
helpline – 01753 549865 – is open Monday to Wednesday from 9.30am to
2.30pm and Thursday to Friday 9.30am to 4pm. Alternatively, you can
call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline which is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.
- Our Housing Service can provide advice, support and emergency
safe housing 24/7 for victims within the borough. If calling Monday to
Friday, 9am to 5pm, please contact our housing duty team on 01628
683803. The out-of-hours contact is 01344 786543.
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All
our libraries are also designated safe spaces where staff are trained
to discreetly seek help for victims. Several local pharmacies also offer
safe spaces for sufferers. See the locations on the UK Says No More website.
Learn more in our press release.
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Share your views on our plan to deliver electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the borough
You
are invited to have your say on a plan outlining how we will bring
forward hundreds more charging points for electric vehicles, to support
the move to greener travel.
A five-week consultation on the draft Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Implementation Plan has been launched, and you have until Monday 9 January to give your views.
The plan sets out how we will ensure charging provision for electric vehicles keeps pace with demand and contains
a number of proposed policies on the delivery and operation of
chargepoints in the borough, as well as general principles on where they
should be located.
For full details and to respond to the consultation, visit the RBWM Together website.
Read our press release to learn more.
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Speak with our Community Wardens about staying safe this festive season
Our
Community Wardens are taking their stand to several local libraries
during December, to raise awareness of simple steps you can make to stay
safe and protect your loved ones and belongings during the festive
period.
In
addition to offering bespoke advice and listening to any concerns
residents may have, they will also be giving away a limited number of
free packs containing a selection of useful items supporting personal
safety and crime prevention.
These
include a top tips safety leaflet for the festive season, UV pen to
mark high value belongings, a personal alarm and a key torch alarm (all
subject to availability). Further free packs will also be left with the
library receptions at Windsor, Maidenhead and Dedworth Libraries for
people to request on a first-come-first-served basis.
The Community Wardens visited Windsor Library this morning and will next visit:
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Maidenhead Library – Tuesday 6 December, 2pm to 4pm
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Ascot Library - Friday 9 December, 10.30am to 12.30pm.
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Eton Wick Library – stay tuned to our Facebook and Twitter channels to see the date and time when announced.
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Remember to make the most of free weekend parking this December
Our Resident Parking Discount Scheme has been extended to two hours’ free parking on weekends throughout December for those who have joined the initiative, providing a boost to Christmas shoppers and local businesses alike.
The scheme usually offers one hour’s free parking in six popular car parks - Alma
Road and Alexandra Gardens in Windsor, Grove Road and West Street in
Maidenhead, Horton Road in Datchet, and Meadow Lane in Eton.
For more information on the scheme and how to apply, please visit our parking discount webpage.
There is also free travel on supported bus services on selected Saturdays leading up to Christmas. You can travel for free when you board within the borough tomorrow (Saturday 3) and Saturday 10 December on Thames Valley Buses routes 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 53, 127, 234/235 and 238/239, and White Bus route 01.
To learn more, please read our press release.
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Reminder: Chance to comment on neighbourhood planning proposals for Maidenhead
Thank
you to everyone who has so far taken part in our consultation on a
community group’s proposals which, if approved, would allow the group to
start preparing a draft Neighbourhood Plan covering the whole of
Maidenhead’s unparished areas.
Neighbourhood plans allow communities to put in place planning policies for a specific neighbourhood area to help guide future development. Adding detail to planning policies already set in the Borough Local Plan, neighbourhood plans are used to help decide planning applications.
The
Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum group has applied to us to designate all
of Maidenhead’s unparished areas as one neighbourhood area. These are
the wards of Belmont, St Mary’s, Riverside, Furze Platt, Pinkneys Green,
Boyn Hill, and Oldfield.
For full details and to take part, please visit our website. This six-week consultation opened in October and closes next Tuesday (6 December).
Learn more in our press release.
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Reminder: Have your say on improving road safety and reducing congestion
We're applying for
powers to enforce existing moving traffic restrictions in problem
locations, to improve road safety and reduce congestion in the Royal
Borough.
The Government is
inviting councils to apply to use Automatic Number Plate Recognition
cameras to tackle illegal and dangerous driving activities, such as
turning up one-way streets, ignoring no entry signs, exceeding weight
limits and driving in pedestrian zones.
We’re holding a consultation until Saturday 24 December to
ensure we have identified the best sites for targeted camera
enforcement. Learn more and take part in the consultation on the RBWM Together website.
For more information, please read our press release.
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Stay fire safe this Christmas
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service has launched its advent campaign, sharing 24 days of fire safety advice on its Twitter and Facebook channels.
Although
fire safety is vital all year round, the service is reminding everyone
that the festive season can bring extra fire hazards, such as Christmas
trees, decorations, and candles.
So
far, they have warned of the dangers of not getting your chimneys swept
and the risks of counterfeit electrical goods which could cause fires
or explode.
To learn more, visit their website.
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Festive fun at your local library this Christmas
There
are lots of great upcoming events at Royal Borough libraries this
Christmas. Here are just some of this year’s festive events:
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Christmas Storytime (Thursday 15 December, 10.30am) – Ascot Durning Library. Free to attend, no booking is required
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Christmas Crafts for Adults
(Friday 16 December, 10am to noon) – Sunninghill Library. Make your own
Christmas table decoration, using fresh and recycled materials - a
perfect start for a joyful period of festivities! £15 per person, book via Eventbrite
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Christmas Crafts Week (Monday
19 to Friday 23 December, 2.30pm to 4pm) – Maidenhead Library. Daily
crafts include angels, penguins, and snowmen. Free to attend, no booking
is required
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Twelve Days in The Library
(Tuesday 20 December, 6pm) – Windsor Library. The library will be
taking part in The Windsor and Eton Living Advent Calendar 2022 with a
live performance of ‘Twelve Days in The Library’. Visit the Facebook page for details
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Christmas Tree Book Folding Workshop
(Thursday 22 December, 11am to noon) – Cox Green Library. Make and
decorate a Christmas tree out of recycled books. £3 per person, book via Eventbrite
Check out our library events page to learn more about all the upcoming festive events in our libraries.
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Royal Borough Community Spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough:
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1st South Ascot Rangers quiz night (Friday 2 December, 6pm to 8pm – All Souls Church, Ascot. 1st
South Ascot Rangers (Girl Guiding) are holding a quiz night to raise
money for Children in Need. There will also be an opportunity to buy
Christmas crafts. Tickets are £3, please bring your own drink and snacks
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Soundswell Christmas concert
(Saturday 3 December, 7.30pm) – The Old Court, Windsor. Come and
celebrate Christmas at a concert of seasonal music and join in singing
carols with Windsor Soundswell Choir. Tickets are available from the Old Court website, 01753 911333, or at the door
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Festive activities in St Andrew’s Church, Clewer (Saturday 3 December, 11am to 2pm) – There
will be carol singing, handbell ringing and a chance to ring a bell. A
variety of tasty treats are also on offer including mulled wine,
homemade soup and bread, coffee, tea, and cake. Stalls include miniature
Christmas trees and plants, handmade stitched cards, wreath-making,
Christmas decorations and a tombola. There will also be a
selection of homemade bottled beverages
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Festive Fun at Windsor Yards
(Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December) Come and enjoy a fantastically
festive weekend full of fun for all the family. It’s the place to be to
enjoy free entertainment, and festive stories, meet and greets with real
reindeer, Santa and his helpers, taste tempting food, find great gifts,
snap festive selfies, and much more. For what’s on details, please visit the Windsor Yards website
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Travel around the World of Trees
(Saturday 3 December, 10am to 4pm) – Maidenhead Library. Over 50 tree
stories will be told via a collection of postage stamps from all over
the world, enabling you to travel around the world of trees.
This exhibition is different, entertaining, and informative, a chance
to chat about trees whether locally or far and wide. Curator Martin
Woolner, founder of Wild Maidenhead, will also attend to expand on the
stories and themes of the exhibition
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Voices Anon Christmas Concert
(Friday 9 December, 7.30pm) – Maidenhead Methodist Church. A free
Christmas concert with a collection taken in aid of Maidenhead Foodbank,
doors open at 7.15pm. Learn more on the Voices Anon website
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Christmas Tree Festival
(Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December, 10am to 7pm, and Sunday 11 December
noon to 6pm) – St Luke’s Church, Maidenhead. Come and visit this
beautiful church full of decorated trees. Refreshments, stalls and a
raffle will also be present in support of Alexander Devine Children’s
Hospice. Visit the St Luke’s Christmas Tree Trail website for more information
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Cantorum Christmas Concert
(Saturday 10 December, 7.30pm) – Holy Trinity Church, Cookham. The
Cantorum Choir will be performing advent pieces from around the world
including traditional Christmas carols for the audience to join in with.
Ticket price includes refreshments during the interval, book on the Cantorum Choir website or 07939157530
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Christmas at St Mark's Crescent Church, Maidenhead
– Everyone is welcome to come and begin Christmas festivities with
Carols Outside the Church on Wednesday 14 December at 5.30pm. Everyone
is also invited to attend a festive service led by Rev. Pete Philips on
Sunday 18 December at 10.30am, with coffee available after the service
in the new Hub. For more information, please email info@stmarksmaidenhead.org.uk
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Celebrate Christmas at Windsor Fellowship Church
– Take part in traditional carols on Sunday 11 December at 4pm, and
their family-friendly nativity (kids can come dressed up) on Sunday 18
December at 3pm. Festive refreshments will be available, entry is free,
and no booking is required. Visit the Windsor Fellowship website to learn more
If you have
an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity you’d like to
promote in this newsletter, simply send basic information about your
event to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with more than 21,000 local residents.
You just
need to include a brief description, when and where it takes place, and a
link to a website/social media page/contact where people can find out
more.
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Have your say
We regularly hold consultations and surveys to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.
Participating, sharing ideas and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.
Our current consultations are:
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Local travel updates
The M4 is due to be closed in both directions between junctions 6 (Slough) and 8/9 (Maidenhead) from 10pm today (Friday 2 December) until 6am on Monday 5 December. Traffic will be diverted onto the A308M, the A308, the A332 and the A355. For more information, please visit the National Highways website.
For details of council works on highways, visit our website. For full local
roadwork details, including work by utility firms, please visit the One Network
website.
There are also planned rail strikes by the RMT union from:
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Tuesday 13 to Wednesday 14 December
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Friday 16 to Saturday 17 December
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Tuesday 3 to Wednesday 4 January
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Friday 6 to Saturday 7 January
For the latest information, please visit the Great Western Railway and South Western Railway websites.
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