Reminder: Submit your feedback to help refresh the council's priorities

If you've held a workshop, to help shape refreshed priorities for the council and place we serve, there's still time to submit your feedback.

Our new Corporate Plan will focus planning, decision-making and delivery across the council around areas where change needs to be driven most. Within the context of a very challenging financial position, the plan will help to prioritise our budget, how we deliver services and work with partners.

If you've joined the conversation over the last month to help shape the plan by running your own engagement workshop with your community or group, you have until this Sunday (5 November) to submit your feedback.

Visit our website here for more information, or read more in our press release.

Reminder: Have your say on key planning document helping to tackle climate change

You are invited to help finalise a critical planning document, designed to ensure sustainability and tackling climate change are fully considered in the Royal Borough’s future growth and development.

We're holding a six-week consultation, until midnight on Monday 27 November, on the draft of our Sustainability Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The SPD aims to shape new development in the direction of net zero carbon, protect and enhance the natural environment, drive carbon reductions in the borough and deliver wider climate change mitigations and adaptations. A key action within the council’s Environment and Climate Strategy, it will guide developers in preparing their planning applications and will be considered in planning decisions and appeals.

How can you get involved?

You can visit our website to view the draft SPD document and leave your comments by completing the online feedback form. To get involved in the consultation, you are invited to attend one of the below remaining sessions:

• Wednesday 8 November, 6pm to 7.30pm – Online webinar via Microsoft Teams. The link for joining will be added to our website next week
• Tuesday 14 November, 2pm to 6.30pm – Windsor Library drop-in event.

Thank you to everyone who attended our first drop-in event, held in Maidenhead Library earlier this week. 

Read more in our press release.

Observing Remembrance in the Royal Borough

You're invited to attend the Remembrance Sunday services taking place in the Royal Borough to honour those who have served and sacrificed in wars and conflicts.

On Remembrance Sunday (12 November) we'll hold two services from 10.50am in Windsor and Maidenhead, and observe a two-minute-silence at 11am.

The Maidenhead service will be held at the War Memorial outside Maidenhead Town Hall, and the Windsor service will be held at the war memorial on Windsor High Street outside the Parish Church of St John the Baptist.

The ceremonies will be followed by the usual church services at St Mary’s Church in Maidenhead and Windsor Parish Church.

A number of community-run services are also taking place in the borough’s villages, including Cookham, Cookham Dean, Horton and Waltham St Lawrence.

Read more in our press release.

Children invited to join 21-gun salute outside Windsor Castle for King’s birthday

Children are invited to help wish His Majesty The King a happy birthday, by taking part in the traditional 21-gun salute outside Windsor Castle, on Tuesday 14 November, starting at noon.

We will be celebrating His Majesty’s 75^th birthday in style with the annual firing of mini cannon on The Long Walk, near the Brook Street entrance, with the special tribute led by Councillor Neil Knowles, the mayor.

As usual, a number of lucky children attending the ceremony will be chosen at random to fire the guns, under the safe supervision of an ordnance expert.

Read more in our press release.

Welcome news as plans to close rail ticket offices scrapped

This week we welcomed the news that poorly-considered plans from rail companies to close ticket offices in England had been scrapped.

As a council, we objected to planned closures of ticket offices at railway stations which would have disadvantaged vulnerable passengers – including at eight stations in the borough.

The rail industry’s proposals to replace staffed ticket offices with ticket machines were premature, not fully developed and would have reduced quality of service and ease of access to tickets for residents, especially older and/or disabled people. 

For more information, see our statement.

Come along to the Healthcare World Café in Ascot

Local healthcare is the topic of a special one-off World Café being held in Ascot on Thursday 16 November.

Meet representatives from Ascot’s four GP surgeries, along with other health organisations, for your thoughts and ideas on local healthcare, plus explore if community partnerships could also help deliver the services and support you need.

This networking event is being held at Ascot Durning Library in the High Street, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. There’s no need to book. Just turn up. Refreshments will be available.

Our informal World Cafés let you share what matters most in your neighbourhood. Their aim is to find solutions to local issues, as well as discover relevant support and connect with fellow residents.

Staying safe with fireworks

If you’re celebrating Bonfire Night on 5 November or Diwali on 12 November at home, make sure you buy your fireworks from a licensed seller, handle them responsibly, and follow the Firework Code.

Remember, fireworks can be frightening for people and animals, so let your neighbours know in advance and look after your pets.

Our Trading Standards have been visiting businesses licensed to store and sell fireworks in the run up to Bonfire Night and Diwali. They have conducted safety inspections, checked storage arrangements, reminded them about responsible selling and checked fire safety measures.

Further safety advice can be found here.

Celebrating Movember at Maidenhead Library

November is Movember time – a global movement of growing temporary moustaches to raise awareness and funds for men’s health, specifically prostate and testicular cancers, mental wellbeing, and suicide prevention.

Maidenhead Library is holding a special event on Friday 24 November from 7.30pm to 9.30pm to honour Movember. In addition to information and signposting to men’s health support, the evening also offers beer testing and a celebration of music of the top ‘taches’ in recent musical history. Ladies, of course, are also welcome. Visit Eventbrite to book your place. 

Launched in Australia twenty years ago, Movember now has five million ‘tache’ growers funding more than 1,200 innovative men's health projects in 20 plus countries. Prostate Cancer UK is the main beneficiary of the Movember campaign over here.

Support for those with Long Covid

Long Covid brings with it a range of possible symptoms. If you think you might be suffering with Long Covid, please get in touch with your GP practice.

They will be able to examine your symptoms and consider whether to refer you to the Long Covid Service.

For more information on the support available, visit the NHS website.

Do you need help to speak up and be heard? Independent advocacy can help

We commission The Advocacy People to provide free, independent and confidential advocacy services for people who find it difficult to have a say in their care and services and do not have someone to help them with this.

Advocacy is about giving people as much control as possible in their lives. Advocates help people understand information, say what they want and what they need and get the services they need. When a person is not able to make their voice heard, an advocate can be their voice.

Advocacy can help you if you have a learning disability, dementia, a mental health issue or if you need help with your social care assessments or to make a complaint about your NHS services.

Find out how The Advocacy People can help you at its event on Tuesday 7 November, 1.30pm to 3pm at Boyn Grove Community Centre, 11 Courthouse Road, Maidenhead, SL6 6JE. Let the organisation know if you would like to join by emailing Alex.Osterritter@theadvocacypeople.org.uk. Get in touch via the website, by calling 0330 440 9000 or texting PEOPLE to 80800.

Information sessions for those supporting people with Special Educational Needs and Disability

Information sessions aimed at parents, carers and families supporting someone under the age of 26 with Special Educational Needs and Disability will be run throughout November and December by the Information, Advice and Support Service (IAS).

They include SEN Support and more information on the Inclusion Quality Mark, emotionally related school avoidance, and an IAS Surgery where you can book a 15-minute appointment with an adviser.

You can also help shape the Special Educational Needs and Disability library offer within the borough at a SEND Booklist Working Group on Tuesday 5 December, 10.30am to 11.30am at Maidenhead Library. Email ias@rbwm.gov.uk for more information.

For full details of all the sessions on offer and to book, visit the website.

Our pumpkin carving competition winners!

Thank you to everyone who shared their wonderful pumpkin carvings (and designs) with us. Here are just some of the great submissions:

Charlotte

Jeanne

Ryan

Royal Borough Community Spotlight

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

• Stanley Spencer Gallery summer exhibition (until 5 November) - High St, Cookham, SL6 9SJ. A Brush with History, Stanley Spencer and Modern British Art in partnership with Southampton City Art Gallery. For more information, and gallery opening times, visit its website.

• Pub & Pastries Seniors Social (Monday 6 November, 11am to 12.30pm, and every first Monday of the month) - The Fox & Castle Pub, Old Windsor. Relaxed, friendly, sociable gathering for seniors, their friends and family. Warm and welcoming to those experiencing dementia and other conditions, at any age, and any stage. Free attendance and sweet treats. Small charge for hot drinks. More information and tickets here or email jo.halstead@homeinstead.co.uk or call 01784 335804.

• Royal Windsor Rose Show Floral Club flower arranging demonstration (Tuesday 7 November, 2pm) - Gardeners Hall, St Leonard’s Road Windsor. All welcome - £7.50 entry (cash only) and the opportunity to win the arrangements in the raffle. Any queries call 07786 703238.

• Soulpaint Virtual Reality (Tuesday 7 to Saturday 18 November) - Maidenhead Library. Join for a unique, free two-week event that combines the power of art with the benefits of health and wellness as you engage in a virtual reality exploration of your inner self. More information on the poster or leaflet. Book your place on Eventbrite.

• Maidenhead Women’s Group for European Friendship lecture (Wednesday 8 November, 2.30pm) - United Reform Church in Maidenhead). Lecture by Dorothy Cook - '42 years as a midwife'. Guests entry £5, including refreshments. Further details on the website.

• GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead (Wednesday 8 November) – Join the group at Holyport FC for shingle shifting to fill potholes. More information here.

• Alexander Devine's Children's Hospice pop up toy shop (Thursday 9 November) - Nicholsons centre, Maidenhead. There will be many new and pre-loved toys, children's books, games and puzzles with 100% of the monies raised going direct to the charity. For more information visit the website.

• Spirit of Resistance (Sunday 12 November, 3pm) - St Michael's Church, Bray. A recital by acclaimed pianist Eva Doroszkowska, featuring works by Polish, Latvian, Estonian and Ukrainian composers. Admission free with a retiring collection. Visit the church's website.

• Cost of living help (Tuesday 14 November, midday to 2pm) - Spencer Denney Centre, Park Corner, Windsor. The Green Doctor will be giving a presentation on how to save money and Citizens Advice will be giving information on benefits and other avenues of help. There will also be a hot water bottle exchange. Bring your old hot water bottles and exchange them for a new one.

• Royal Reminiscence: Dementia friendly mornings (Wednesday 29 November, from 10.30am). If you know someone in the borough living with dementia, or awaiting a dementia diagnosis, join on the last Wednesday of the month at Windsor Castle to talk all things royal. Sessions are fee, informal and include refreshments. Come along on to hear and share stories about the fire at the castle in 1992. Any questions, call Amy on 07860 612393 or visit the website.

• Volunteer treasurer needed - the Stanley Spencer Gallery, Cookham. As treasurer, you will play a vital role in managing the gallery’s finances and ensuring it is are operating in a fiscally responsible manner. Duties will include daily cash management and payments, overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and maintaining accurate records. To apply, please send your resume and a brief statement outlining why you are interested in this position to Bob Kottler, Chairman of the Management Committee at bob@stanleyspencer.org.uk. More information on the website.

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 - improvement work

Work by Network Rail to install a new lift and staircase at Maidenhead station is due to get under way from Monday 6 November. Read more about what this means for users here.

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.