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Royal Borough objects to closure of train station ticket offices
We're
objecting to planned closures of ticket offices at railway stations
which will disadvantage vulnerable passengers – including at eight
stations in the borough.
The
rail industry’s proposals to replace staffed ticket offices with ticket
machines are premature, not fully developed and will reduce quality of
service and ease of access to tickets for residents, especially older
and/or disabled people.
Lending
our voice to a growing chorus of objectors calling for a national
re-think, we've submitted our formal objection letter raising
significant accessibility concerns on behalf of our local residents and
visitors.
The
borough has an ageing population with 18.4% of the population being
aged 65 years and over and 12.4% declaring a disability. Windsor is also
a major visitor destination which prides itself in welcoming people of
different ages and abilities from around the world.
Read more in our press release.
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Seen on TV about Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete in schools?
You may have seen coverage in the news this week about school closures due to their buildings containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
We understand this will be a worrying time for schools, parents and pupils. At
this stage, we are not aware of any RAAC in any state schools in the
Royal Borough, with the one exception of St Francis Catholic Primary
School in Ascot. RAAC was identified in part of the school in July 2023,
and the affected areas were closed.
In
liaison with the Department for Education and us, the academy trust
responsible for St Francis has arranged alternative classroom
accommodation on-site to allow the school to re-open to all pupils at
the start of the new academic year and has been in touch directly with
parents around those arrangements.
We
continue to work closely with the Department of Education on its
programme of RAAC identification in schools, and schools will keep
parents updated with any developments.
The Royal Borough is the Responsible Body for
community and voluntary controlled schools. We commissioned a RAAC
survey of our school buildings in 2022, and no RAAC was found.
National guidance for parents on RAAC is available on the government website.
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Join our Communities Celebration 2023
It’s party time at Maidenhead Library on Friday 29 September, and you’re cordially invited to join in with the fun.
The event is being hosted on the ground and first
floors of the library. There’ll be a party atmosphere with a DJ and
dance floor, free fun activities, food, and refreshments.
This special night will honour and celebrate our
residents, community groups, and voluntary services organisations. It'll
also showcase the many community projects across the borough including
the Community Champions, World Cafes, and Innovation Fund initiatives -
which have all succeeded thanks to collaborative working with local
communities. It’s being organised by the council in partnership with NHS
Frimley.
The celebration is due to start at 6.30pm until late. If you want to attend, please RSVP in advance
via the Communities Celebration 2023 page on the RBWM Together website
to ensure there’s enough food and refreshments on the night.
If you’ve mobility
issues travelling to and from the event, charity People to Places is
offering free transport from Ascot, Windsor, and Maidenhead. As seats
are limited, if you’d like to book, please call 01628 587925, between
2pm and 4pm on Tuesday to Fridays, by 21 September.
Read more in our press release.
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Reminder: Essential maintenance to Royal Windsor Way to start
Essential maintenance work will start on Monday (4 September) to repair the A355 and A332 Royal Windsor Way ensuring this key transport link is ready for winter and for years to come.
Overnight closures on the section of road between
the B3024 Dedworth Road roundabout in the south and the roundabout at
the junction with the M4 in the north, will be in place from 8pm until
5.30am for 12 nights this month. Both roundabouts will remain open.
Our
important investment will see surface treatment work undertaken on both
the northbound and southbound carriageways, including crack and joint
sealing, and patching. The work will also include line painting, new
cats’ eyes and street lighting and barrier repairs.
The
project, which is being undertaken by VolkerHighways, our highways
contractor, will also include asphalt preservation work to help extend
the life of the surface.
Read more in our press release.
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Reminder: Find out more about essential maintenance work to historic Cookham Bridge
Two more drop-in events are being held for you to find out more about essential maintenance work to the historic Cookham Bridge.
This
important refurbishment project will help extend the life of the Grade
II* listed structure, ensuring the bridge continues to serve the
community for many years to come and will avoid more disruptive work in
future years.
The
project is due to get underway in October and includes bearing
replacement, re-waterproofing, resurfacing and joint replacement. The
bridge is due to close to motor vehicles on Monday 16 October
for approximately 20 weeks during the work, but pedestrian access will
remain. Cyclists will need to dismount before crossing the bridge.
Access
to any properties or business within the closure area will be
maintained at all times. The diversion route will follow the A4094 south
from Cookham, west along the A4 Bath Road, north on the A404, and then
along the A4155 Marlow Road, with this route in reverse for traffic on
the northern side of the bridge.
Find out more
There
will be an opportunity for you to find out more about the project and
have the chance to ask questions at drop-in events being held on both
the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire sides of the bridge next week.
These will be held on:
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Monday 4 September - 4pm to 7pm (The Parish Centre, Holy Trinity Church, Churchgate, Cookham)
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Tuesday 5 September - 4pm to 7pm (Bourne End Community Centre)
Read more in our press release.
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All welcome at our Merchant Navy Day flag raising ceremony
We will be marking Merchant Navy Day in the Royal Borough with the raising of the Red Ensign at 10am on Monday 4 September.
This short ceremony will take place at the war memorial, outside Maidenhead Town Hall, and you're welcome to attend.
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Are you ready for back to school?
The summer holidays are ending this week, so all mums and dads make sure
you’ve got the 2023/24 term dates in your calendars.
There are approximately 4,500 children in the Royal Borough making the move
up to secondary school, and while this transition is exciting for many, it can
bring new challenges or worries.
If you are a parent or carer, make sure you speak with your child to help them prepare for this big step to secondary school. The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families has produced this great video which you can view on our Facebook page and advice for parents. A booklet for children making the transition is also available from Barnardo’s.
Our Wellbeing Team and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants work with
schools in the Royal Borough, alongside parents, carers, and partner services,
to support children with a range of issues including feelings of anxiety. You can
learn more about them in our short video.
There’s a wealth of professional guidance from Kooth (for children aged 10+) and the NHS on coping techniques available to parents and young people to help with anxiety.
Frimley Health and Care also has a helpful guide for children to help them
manage their mental health. Their Little Blue Book of Sunshine is a great
source of reliable, professional guidance.
Mental health support and information for young people is also available on our website.
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Know Your Numbers Week: Get your BMI checked for free
If you’re passing Maidenhead Library next week,
pop in and get your Body Mass Index (BMI) checked for free by health
professionals. The BMI is a measure that uses your height and weight to
work out if your weight is healthy.
57% of adults in the Royal Borough are overweight or obese
which can cause high blood pressure and other dangerous health
conditions, such as strokes and heart attacks. But there’s lots of local
support available to help you manage your weight. Health professionals
at the library sessions will be able to direct you to help that’s right
for you.
The library sessions are on Monday 4 and Friday 8 September, 11am to 1pm, as well as 2 to 4pm on Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 September. There’s no need to book.
The sessions coincide with national Know Your Numbers Week (4 to 10 September)
to raise awareness of high blood pressure which is often called the
silent killer. But if you know your numbers, you can start making
healthy lifestyle changes.
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Almost 300 nominations for this year’s Garden in Bloom competition
Prizes have been awarded in this year’s Garden in Bloom competition.
There were almost 300 nominations this year for the contest, which is organised by the Royal Borough.
The
winners and runners up in each ward were presented with a rosette and
the winners with a £20 Braywick Heath Nursery voucher. All nominees
received a certificate.
Any
garden visible from a footpath or road was eligible for entry and
nominations were made by residents, passers-by and by councillors in
their own wards. The competition was judged by councillors on a
ward-by-ward basis. Read more in our press release.
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Windsor & Maidenhead Community Lottery: Supporting good causes across the borough
There were 17 winners
in last Saturday’s draw for our Windsor & Maidenhead Community
Lottery, which also boosts funds for 71 local good causes.
Congratulations to the
two £250 winners - Ms R, who supports Cycling Without Age, and Ms D,
who supports The Baby Bank. There were also 15 residents who won three
extra lottery tickets as two of their chosen numbers matched the six
drawn on the night.
The Windsor &
Maidenhead Community Lottery is a great way to have fun while also
supporting a range of local good causes. Up to 60% of ticket sales go to
these good causes and players choose which they want to support.
Windsor Horse Rangers, Maidenhead and District Stroke Club, and the
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service are currently in the lead
for the amounts raised.
To play, or to see which local good causes to support, visit the Windsor & Maidenhead Community Lottery website.
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Are you concerned about your teen vaping?
Parents of teenagers who vape, are invited to one of two online focus groups being held on Thursday 7 September at 1.30pm, or Tuesday 12 September at 9.30am. Both sessions last an hour.
Along with Bracknell Forest Council, we’re
exploring young people’s use and attitudes towards vaping. We want to
better understand why they use vapes, how they get hold of them, and
what they understand of the health risks.
An Action on Smoking and Health survey shows an
increasing number of young people nationally are vaping. Local data also
shows a similar trend. Although vapes are currently seen as less
harmful than cigarettes, they’re designed to stop people smoking, not to
start, which is what young people are doing with them.
Even though we’re talking to young people in this
project, the views of their parents are equally important. Feedback from
both groups will help us shape the local support needed.
To book your place on the parent focus group, visit the Let’s Talk about Vaping page on Bracknell Forest’s website.
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Flu and Covid autumn vaccines brought forward
Due to the
new Covid BA.2.86 variant, the government says this year’s autumn Flu
and Covid vaccines in England will start earlier than planned as a
precautionary measure.
This means vaccinations are now due to start on Monday 11 September with adult care home residents, and those most at risk, to receive their vaccines first.
The following groups are currently be offered the Covid vaccine this autumn:
- Residents in care homes for older adults
- Adults aged 65 plus
- Ages six months to 64 in a clinical risk group
- Frontline health and social care workers
- Ages 12 to 64 who live in the same house as people with weakened immune systems.
People in these groups will receive an invitation when it’s time for their vaccinations. Read more details about this autumn's vaccinations.
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Royal Borough Community Spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events and volunteering opportunities in the Royal Borough:
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Free sing with Tuneless Choir Maidenhead
(Wednesday nights in September, 8pm to 9.15pm) – URC, West Street, SL6
1RL. No vocal talent is required to join this choir and first timers can
sign up for a ‘free sing’ in September, selecting either the 6, 13, 20
or 27 (which is also a themed ‘Musicals’ night). Claim your free sing on
the website.
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Old Windsor Handicraft, Produce & Horticultural Society 86th Annual Show
(Saturday 2 September) - Old Windsor Memorial
Hall. Categories for adults and children including arts, craft,
baking, flower arranging and horticulture. See the Facebook group for more information.
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River Thames cruise
(Tuesday 5 September, 10am) - Organised by Maidenhead Heritage Centre.
For more information on how to book, and the other activities available
visit the heritage centre website.
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Royal Free Singers open evening (Wednesday
6 September, 7.30pm to 9.30pm) - Trevelyan School, Wood Close, Windsor.
Come and enjoy an evening with community choir, the Royal Free Singers.
Vocal warm-ups, rounds and part-songs, suitable for all, and an
introduction to Verdi's Requiem, the choir's next concert. No pressure,
no charge, all welcome. Send an email to let the group know you're
coming or ask any questions. Email membership@royalfreesingers.org.uk or visit the Royal Free Singers website.
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Open day at Dedworth Green Baptist Church (Saturday 16 September,
2pm to 5pm) - Smiths Lane, Windsor. Learn more about the church and the
many varied activities that take place in the building. Family
friendly, refreshments provided. Visit the Dedworth Green Baptist Church website for more information.
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Brass Quintet
(Saturday 16 September, 7.30pm) – St John the Baptist Church, Cookham
Dean, SL6 9PD. Quintessential Brass will play music spanning the last
400 years, including original works for brass and arrangements of
familiar light repertoire. Tickets cost £15 each and include a drink and
canapés in the interval. Tickets or further information are available
from Ros Hazeldine on 01628 476963 or email rahazeldine@btinternet.com
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Nature’s Haven is
creating a community healing garden with opportunities to engage as
many people in the community as possible as it nurtures and promotes a
feeling of connectedness and wellbeing. It
is inviting volunteers to gain practical gardening experience. Sessions
run every Thursday 5.30pm to 7.30pm and Saturday 10am to midday at the
Community Centre, 4 Marlow Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7HY. Fully accessible
and parking available. Learn more on its website.
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Family drop-in sessions – Want
time to chill and meet friends, with a space to play and enjoy craft
activities with other families? Re:Charge family drop-in sessions run
from 10am to 2pm every Tuesday at Larchfield Community Centre,
Maidenhead and every Thursdays at Wesley Hall, High Street Methodist
Church, Maidenhead. Admission is £1.50 per family, and hot drinks and
snacks are available. Learn more on the Re:Charge Maidenhead Facebook page.
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Volunteers wanted at Thames Hospice
– Local charity Thames Hospice is appealing for volunteers to join its
eBay commerce team, including packers, listers and researchers. The
roles are easy with full training given, and are a great way to add
online sales to your CV. To learn more, please visit the Thames Hospice website.
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Trustee vacancies. Cookham
Welfare Trust is a small charity which provides educational grants to
students in the Cookham area. It is looking to recruit local residents
to join the charity as trustees to help it grow and continue to provide
support to young people in the Cookham parishes. Committee meetings are
held quarterly at Elizabeth House, Cookham. You do not need any previous
experience of working with a charity or in the education sector. To
find out more about joining as a trustee please email cookhamwelfaretrust@gmail.com.
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Volunteering for Maidenhead Community Watch Association.
Funding has been received to promote the association's Home Security
Assessment initiative which is providing vulnerable and elderly
residents in Maidenhead with various free home security items. The
association has a need for a handyman/lady to help with fitting the
free security items as required (door chain, security lights, door spy
holes), and for someone to carry out the initial Home Security
Assessment - training is provided - one brief session. For
anyone interested in participating in SpeedWatch contact the association
chairman, John Diack, on jrdmcw@gmail.com
If you have
an upcoming not-for-profit community event or appeal for volunteers
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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Local Travel Updates
Rail - industrial action
Strike action by the Aslef union is taking place today, Friday 1 September, and by the RMT union tomorrow, Saturday 2 September, when there is also an Aslef overtime ban. A significantly reduced service will run, and many parts of the SWR and GWR network will have no service at all. Visit the GWR website and SWR website for updates.
Council highways works
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.
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