City break anyone? New parking offer launches at Maidenhead’s Vicus Way car park

A new affordable parking offer has launched in Maidenhead for people taking the train into London for a weekend city break – or spending the whole of Saturday and Sunday having fun in the Royal Borough.

We've introduced the exclusive new deal at Maidenhead’s brand new Vicus Way car park, allowing motorists arriving after 4pm on Friday to park until 11am on Monday for just £10.

The modern car park is an affordable parking base outside ULEZ – a convenient five-minute walk to the Elizabeth Line Great Western Railway station to London and Windsor. Spaces are always available, even at weekends.

Payment is either through the RingGo app or via phone using the automated voice service, following the instructions on the car park signage and using the five-digit zone code for the special offer that is displayed on the signage.

Read more in our press release.

Robot line marker is put through paces

We've tested out a robot designed to mark out perfect playing pitches – offering the potential to save staff time to spend on other grounds maintenance work.

The machine can be used for both initial marking out of pitches and over-marking during the season to keep the pitch fresh, using pre-programmed GPS instructions to paint 100 per cent straight and accurate lines.

Programming and supervising the robot can be done by one operative, whereas initial marking out traditionally requires two people and is more time-consuming. The robot is considerably quicker and uses less paint too.

Our grounds maintenance contractor, Tivoli, led the demo at Clewer Memorial Recreation Ground after the completion of initial marking of the borough’s pitches a few weeks ago. Read more in our press release.

Staying safe this Halloween

We want all residents in the borough to have a safe and enjoyable Halloween.

Our Community Wardens will be providing a reassuring presence and will be on patrol with officers from Thames Valley Police next Tuesday to ensure everyone has a good time.

For further information, visit the Thames Valley Police website and the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service website.

Will you carve a path to victory in our pumpkin competition?

Calling all creative carvers, we want to showcase the best pumpkin carvings the Royal Boo-rough of Windsor & Maidenhead has to offer!

Whether it’s the classic zig-zag smile or a truly artistic creation, make sure you share your carvings with us via X, Facebook or via email.

We had some excellent entries last year so we’re looking forward to seeing what you make this year.

Reminder: Maidenhead Town Forum and Windsor Forum - get involved

You are welcome to attend, listen to the discussion, ask questions and suggest items for future agendas at the next Maidenhead Town Forum and Windsor Forum meetings.

The next Windsor Forum will be held on Thursday 9 November at York House, Windsor from 6.30pm. The next Maidenhead Town Forum will be held on Monday 13 November at Maidenhead Town Hall, also from 6.30pm.

The meetings will also be streamed live on the council’s YouTube channel.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight

Here are just some of the upcoming community events and volunteering opportunities in the Royal Borough:

• Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal - this year's appeal launched this week. For more information and to donate, visit the website. Look out for full details of local Remembrance services next week.

• White Waltham Village Association bonfire and fireworks display (Saturday 28 October, gates open at 5.30pm) - in the field behind the cricket club. Cake stall, BBQ, bar, mulled wine and hot drinks available. £7.50 per adult, accompanied school age children free.

• Magical Flutes with Jonathan Morgan & Jenny Thomas (Sunday 29 October, 7pm) - All Saints Church, Frances Rd, Windsor SL4 3AJ. Composers to include Telemann, W.F. Bach, Hotteterre, De Fesch & Handel. Tickets £15 from Eventbrite or cash on the door.

• Lions Club of Windsor Swimathon (Sunday 29 October) - St George’s School, Ascot. Register a team or multiple of teams and swim for your nominated charity. Each team member should aim to collect as much sponsorship as possible. To enter a team or teams, please register via the website.

• Quiz Night (Saturday 11 November, 7pm for 7.30pm - prompt start is required) - Woodlands Park Village Centre, Manifold Way, SL6 6GW. Tables of six or ask about individual entries. £7.50 per person. Bring your own food, drinks, glasses, etc. A raffle will be held with various donated prizes. To book, email info@stmarksmaidenhead.org.uk or call 01628 623263. All proceeds go to St Marks Crescent Methodist Church Boiler Fund.

• Christmas Craft Fayre (Saturday 11 November, 9.30am to 12.30pm) - St Michael's Church Bray SL6 2AA. A two-minute silence will be held at 11am. Free entry with lots of great Christmas ideas. Visit Facebook for more details.

• Living Library of Faiths & Beliefs (Saturday 11 November, midday to 3pm) - Maidenhead Library. Come along and ask questions of representatives from the following faiths: Bahai, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Humanism, Islam, Judaism and Sikkhism. Organised by the Royal Borough Interfaith Group - Windsor & Maidenhead Community Forum (WAMCF). Visit the website.

• Alzheimers Dementia Support Santa Fun Run (Sunday 26 November, 10.30am) - Eton Dorney Lake, Court Lane, Dorney, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 6FJ. Put on the Santa suit included in your registration pack and join hundreds of other Santas running/walking/pushing a 5k course to raise money for local people with dementia, their carers and families in Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead, Slough. After completing the race, you will receive a certificate and a well-deserved medal. There will also be a grotto, where children can visit Santa and receive a surprise gift. All welcome. For more information and to register, visit the website.

• Holyport Whist Club (Alternate Tuesdays, 2pm to 4pm) – Holyport Memorial Hall. New members and beginners are welcome. Call Jeanette Sperling on 01628 624442 or email jeanettesperling37@gmail.com to learn more.

• New Dementia Café (First Monday each month, 11am to 12.30pm) – The Fox and Castle, 21 Burfield Road, Old Windsor. A relaxed and friendly gathering for those navigating dementia. Any age, any stage welcome with carers or family.

• Maidenhead Community Choir invites residents to enter into the festive spirit at two special choir rehearsals on 28 November and 5 December, culminating in a Big Choir concert where a number of local choirs gather to perform and raise funds for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance. Information can be found on the website and tickets available here.

• Tiptoe Through The Tombstones will be the second instalment in a trilogy of plays by Norman Robbins following the farcical antics of the Tomb family. Scheduled for April 2024 the production is looking for cast members. If you would like to audition for a part, it meets on Tuesdays at the Old Windsor Memorial Hall from 8pm to 10pm. There are no membership fees - just show up and have fun. If acting is not for you, people interested in lighting, sound, costume, social media, set design and set building are also needed.

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.

To see further volunteering opportunities in the borough, or for another way for community organisations to promote volunteering opportunities, please visit RBWM Together.

Local Travel Updates

Rail - engineering works

Planned engineering works are taking place on the South Western Railway network tomorrow and on Sunday 29 October and will affect rail services.

The lines in the Staines area will be closed all weekend due to maintenance work. Buses will run between Staines and Ascot. On Sunday buses will run between Hounslow and Windsor and Eton Riverside. More information on the SWR website.

Council highways works

For details of further council works on highways, visit our website. For full local roadwork details, including work by utility firms, please visit the One Network website.

Keep in touch

Keep up to date with news and information from the council by signing up to Nextdoor and following us on X and Facebook.

Other accounts you may be interested in:

• Royal Borough official tourism web page.  
• Libraries on Facebook and X.
• Royal Borough Registrars on Facebook and Instagram.
• Communities Team on Facebook and X.
• Windsor & Royal Borough Museum web page.
• MyRoyalBorough on X, Facebook and Instagram.
• Make Maidenhead on X and Facebook.