White Ribbon Day: Taking a stand together

We’re again joining with The Dash Charity to support White Ribbon Day tomorrow, Saturday 25 November, calling on everyone to take a stand against male violence, abuse, and harassment towards women.

Our campaign will continue on our Facebook and Twitter/X channels during the 16 days of national activism following White Ribbon Day – so please look out for and share our posts if you’re on social media.

The theme of this year’s White Ribbon Day is ‘Change the Story’. We can all play a part in tackling male violence, abuse and harassment towards women and girls, by calling out the seemingly ‘harmless’ attitudes, behaviours and regular micro-aggressions towards women and girls, such as cat-calling and sexist remarks, which can lead to serious consequences.

The Dash Charity has produced a really handy guide for anyone who manages and moderates social media pages or groups, to help with addressing inappropriate attitudes towards women and girls.

We'll also be raising awareness of the valuable work in the Royal Borough to help keep both women and men safe, the support available to all victims, and the several ways people can report and get help if they’re scared, threatened, or abused: whether at home or on a night out.

Violence and abuse of any sort has no place in our borough.

While White Ribbon Day itself is focussed on female victims of violence, anyone can be a victim of domestic abuse in its various forms. We have specialist support available for men, women, same-sex couples and children. If you’re affected, please remember that you are not alone and support is available 24/7 to help you take that first step to safety.

For more information, including the support available, please read our press release.

New toucan crossing completed linking Maidenhead town centre with homes north of the town

A new crossing for pedestrians and cyclists has officially opened across the A4 St Cloud Way, linking Maidenhead town centre with homes in the north of the town.

The toucan crossing connects the new upcoming St Cloud Way development on the former Magnet Leisure Centre and Ten Pin Bowling sites, as well as other properties north of St Cloud Way, with the town centre by providing a link between Holmanleaze and the Hines Meadow car park. This will help benefit existing communities.

The project forms another part of our investment into active travel and healthy travel choices in Maidenhead, encouraging walking and cycling to and from the town centre.

The crossing replaces the footbridge over St Cloud Way, which was demolished last year, and provides a convenient access to the town as well as another option for walkers and cyclists using the recently completed Missing Links route at nearby Town Moor. The current subway under St Cloud Way remains in use. Read more in our press release.

Cabinet to consider early increases to fees and charges to help balance the budget

Cabinet will next week consider increases to a range of fees and charges for services from 1 January 2024, in response to the serious financial position we're facing.

Among changes to a range of chargeable services, Cabinet will also be asked to approve commencing public consultation on changes to parking fees and charges. These changes would come into effect from February, once feedback from the consultation has been considered.

The changes include proposals to freeze parking charges in the two main town centre multi-storey car parks that we operate (Hines Meadow in Maidenhead and Victoria Street in Windsor) for the first three hours. This supplements the existing one hour free residents’ parking offer at these car parks and selected council-operated car parks across the borough. The one hour free for residents will remain in place to encourage residents to enjoy leisure activities and shopping within their local town centre and support a thriving local economy.

Read more in our press release.

Cabinet to consider bringing some highways services back in-house to improve oversight

Cabinet is due to consider a new highway services contract which, if approved, would give us greater oversight of highways work undertaken by contractors in the borough.

Highway inspections, work programme management and monitoring the quality of works undertaken by contractors would all be directly delivered by our officers, which has the potential to improve the standard of works in the borough.

The new highways services contract covers the following four areas - highway maintenance and capital works, street cleansing, highway transport and bridge professional services, traffic signal and integrated traffic system maintenance – and we will work in partnership with the successful contractors to improve services.

Read more in our press release.

Cabinet to consider next steps in providing electric vehicle charging infrastructure

Cabinet will consider a report on the next exciting steps in providing electric vehicle charging infrastructure and the transition to low carbon transport.

Following the adoption of our Electric Chargepoint Implementation Plan, which outlines how we will bring forward hundreds more charging points for electric vehicles, Cabinet will consider the approach to procurement at its meeting next week.

In addition, we're also bidding for nearly £1million of capital funding from the Department for Transport which, if successful, would allow us to fast track the rollout of new chargepoint infrastructure as part of a public-private commercial partnership with chargepoint operating companies. A bid for this funding is being finalised and will be submitted soon.

The implementation plan helps to support the move to greener travel and ensure charging provision for electric vehicles keeps pace with demand. Read more in our press release.

Say how you’d like to get involved in shaping Berkshire’s blueprint for nature recovery

Communities across Berkshire are invited to say how they’d like to get involved in shaping plans for protecting and improving natural habitats in the county.

Berkshire’s six councils, led by the Royal Borough, are keen to work with residents, landowners, NGOs, developers, community groups and others to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the county.

Funded by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) as part of a wider national nature recovery project, the result for Berkshire will be a nature map of opportunities, as well as a list of biodiversity priorities.

This will prioritise where time and investment are most needed to improve, protect, or enlarge habitats, create wildlife corridors, or create new habitats on land or around watercourses. It will also help to inform and support funding bids for specific projects.

To ensure as many individuals and organisations as possible are involved in the planning stage during 2024, we're holding an initial survey to hear people’s preferences around how best to engage them in the conversations.

Find out more and take part in the survey until Tuesday 2 January on our website. Read more in our press release.

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

There's still time to give your feedback 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.

A six-week consultation closes at 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 our Environment and Climate Strategy, it will guide developers in preparing their planning applications and will be considered in planning decisions and appeals.

You can visit our website to view the draft SPD document and leave your comments by completing the online feedback form. Read more in our press release.

Flood Action Week

This Flood Action Week, the Environment Agency is encouraging people to take some simple steps to help prepare and protect yourself from flooding.

There are three main themes for the week:

• The impact of climate change and the importance of knowing your flood risk
• Sign-up to flood warnings and know what to do when it floods
• Build longer term flood resilience with a focus on protecting your home through property flood resilience.

You can sign up for free flood warnings by phone, text or email for your home or business here. Check for current flood warning or alerts, river, groundwater and rainfall levels and flood risk in the next five days via the website.

There's also helpful information on what to do before or during a flood here and a template to make your own personal flood plan.

Our website also has lots of useful information, including how to report flooding in the borough and emergency contact details.

Free numeracy programme to improve lives - upcoming courses

If you find numbers a challenge, you can improve your numeracy skills and gain confidence to tackle everyday budgeting or get a new job, with our free maths programmes.

We and partner training providers have created the sessions for people aged 19 years and over who do not have GSCE maths at grade C or the equivalent.

Designed to help with everyday activities like shopping and cost of living issues, these sessions are designed to improve specific skills, like budgeting, helping children with homework or improving maths skills for work.

Upcoming courses include:

• Help your child with maths homework, key stage 1 (age five to seven) -Maidenhead Library on Friday 1 December
• Help your child with maths homework, key stage 2 - Maidenhead Library on Friday 1 December
• Cooking on a budget, main meals - Berkshire College of Agriculture on Monday 4 December
• Cooking on a budget, desserts and treats - Berkshire College of Agriculture on Monday 27 November.

The government-funded Multiply programme is to help adults improve their numeracy skills. This adds to the council’s work supporting skills and employability. To view and register for courses, visit the website.

Reminder: Celebrate the start of the festive season in Maidenhead with Christmas lights switch-on

Maidenhead’s Christmas lights switch-on will be held tomorrow (Saturday 25 November), where the fun begins from 11am.

Throughout the day a bustling Festive Market will take place on St Ives Road and in Library Square with a selection of stalls, a bar and street food as well as children’s funfair rides and face painting.

There will be live entertainment from community groups, including Sign4You Choir from 11.15am. There will also be performances from Courtland Stories, Dance Inspired and headliners, The Bottle Kids. 

The exciting countdown for the switch-on begins just before 6pm outside the Town Hall followed by a fireworks’ display, subject to weather conditions.

Old metal skatepark ramps closed off to be replaced with new equipment

The metal ramps at Kidwells skatepark in Maidenhead have had lots of use over many years, however they can no longer be used safely, and are being cordoned off as a precaution.

We have a plan to replace them, which will start soon with asking skaters about their ideas for the new replacement equipment, alongside exploring potential external funding opportunities.

The concrete ramps at the skatepark remain fully open for use. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Purple Sock Day - International Day of Disabled People

It's Purple Sock Day on Sunday 3 December - and by buying and wearing your soft bamboo socks you can help raise positive awareness for disability inclusion.

Fifty per cent of the proceeds goes towards grants, professional support, and business education for budding disabled entrepreneurs.

The day is run by Parallel, which organises the Parallel Windsor event in Windsor Great Park, of which we're a partner. The festival of inclusivity features challenge events for all ages, health conditions and abilities.

For more information on Purple Sock Day visit the Parallel website. You can buy your socks here. Next year's Parallel Windsor event will take place on Sunday 7 July. For more information and tickets, visit the website.

Free exhibition showing the breadth of Berkshire’s history opens at Royal Berkshire Archives

The ‘Our Favourites’ exhibition is made up of locally significant and relevant items favoured by Royal Berkshire Archives staff and their friends and delves into the rich repository of historical records and artifacts.

The exhibition, at the archives in Coley Avenue, Reading, is part of events to mark its 75^th year and runs until Friday 2 February.

It not only showcases staff’s personal passions, but also tells compelling stories of the county’s past - a captivating journey through local history.

Exhibition artifacts span centuries; the earliest items date from when the Black Death ravaged the county. Altogether more than 30 unique items are on display and other highlights include depictions of a parade over Windsor Bridge. Read more in the press release.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight

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

• GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead (Saturday 25 November, 8.45am to midday). Come and help Friends of Maidenhead Waterways work party to help restore waterways through the town centre, making them accessible for everyone to enjoy, whether by boat, on foot or by bicycle, and encouraging wildlife. Join a Saturday morning work party and use secateurs, rakes, nets, and possibly waders or boats to clear litter weeds, debris and litter from the streams that feed into town. More information here.

• 13th Maidenhead Scouts and 4th Maidenhead Brownies and Guides Christmas fair (Saturday 25 November, 10am to 2pm) – Methodist Church, High Street, Maidenhead. Join for games, Christmas gift ideas, homemade jam, puzzle sale, local crafts, tombola and a raffle. Refreshments available and much more.

• Ukrainian charity Christmas craft fair (Saturday 25 November, 11am to 4pm) - Windsor Baptist Church. Local Ukrainian guests will be selling their beautiful handmade crafts, some raising money for Ukrainian charities and organisations. Highlights include scented candles, crochet children's toys and homewares, handmade mirrors and jewellery, hand drawn cards, knitted and embroidered decorations. There will also be festive refreshments, cakes and music, together with masterclasses in making Lalki-Motanki dolls and decorations. Entry is free.

• Christmas fair (Saturday 25 November, 1pm to 4pm) - Braywood Memorial Hall, Fifield, SL6 2NR. Craft stalls, artwork and Christmas gifts. Refreshments available, entry and parking free. Further details on the website or here.

• Christmas fayre (Saturday 25 November, 10am to 1pm) - Spencer Denney Centre, Park Corner, Windsor. There will be knitted goods, handmade soaps and bath bombs, Christmas decorations, table decorations and wreaths, along with a cafe and cake stall. Most of the stalls are run by local people and Age Concern Windsor. For more information and to book call 01753 860685 or email info@ageconcernwindsor.org.uk 

• Santa & his Elves (Saturdays - 25 November and December 2, 9 and 16, 11am to 3pm) - Square in the Nicholsons Centre, Maidenhead. Children can meet Santa, take a selfie with him and receive presents.

• Dr Bike Workshops offering comprehensive bike maintenance services (Sunday 26 November) - Windsor Leisure Centre. Windsor Cycle Hub in Partnership with Leisure Focus will hold the event ensuring that bicycles are not only secure but also well-maintained for optimal performance. Pre-booking is essential. Book here.

• Christmas fair (Sunday 26 November, 1pm to 5pm) - Clewer Memorial Park, Dedworth Road, Windsor. Lots of fun for the kids, stalls and meet Santa. Visit Clewer and Dedworth Together for more information. 

• Alexander Devine Santa Dash (Sunday 26 November) Bring your friends, family and colleagues together and join the charity in Windsor and kick start the festive season. Dash, jog, or walk 5km and raise vital funds for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire and into surrounding counties. Tickets £20 per adult; £10 per child; £50 per family, under fives free. Suggested sponsorship of £72 per adult. By raising just £72 you could help give a child with complex healthcare needs a session of specialist care from an Alexander’s nurse this Christmas. Sign up via 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. 

• 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. 

• 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.

• Christmas Tree Festival (Friday 1 December to Sunday 3 December, 10am to 6pm on Friday and Saturday, Sunday 10am to 6pm, with morning service between 11am and midday) - Old Windsor Parish Church, Church Road, Old Windsor SL4 2JW. Advent Carol Service 6pm. Enjoy treats with mulled wine and homemade cakes. The festival will showcase decorated Christmas trees provided by local organisations, each telling a story. Plenty of parking. Entry free but donations welcome via card or cash. 

• Old Mother Hubbard, The Lady who Lived in a Shoe (1, 2 and 3 and 7, 8 and 9 December, matinee and evening shows) - Memorial Hall in Old Windsor. Riverside Players are a local, not-for-profit, society that has just celebrated its 60^th anniversary. It makes annual charitable donations to local and national charities that have meaning to its members. For more information contact Vicki Arnold 07799 840599 or visit the website.

• Friends of White Waltham Christmas market (Saturday 2 December 4pm to 7pm) - White Waltham C of E Academy. The Cookham Zoo will be attending and there will Christmas shopping opportunities, a pottery painting café, games stalls and Santa’s grotto. You can buy your Christmas tree and support the school. Food and drink vendors are also on site. Any questions please email pta@whitewaltham.org

• All Saints Christmas market (Sunday 3 December, midday to 3.30pm) – All Saints Church, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead SL6 4HE. Christmas cheer for all the family with the handicraft stall and other craft stalls offering Christmas gifts: gin, candles, treats for dogs, chocolate, cakes, handmade jewellery, knitted items, crochet art and accessories, and cards. Plenty of hot food and drinks and opportunities to win prizes on the raffle and tombola. Children’s activities including a treasure hunt and activity table – and the chance for little ones to meet Father Christmas in his grotto. Music from the All Saints Choir and Boyne Hill Infant School with carols from the Salvation Army at 3pm. All welcome.

• Claremont Singers Christmas concert (Sunday 10 December, 3pm) -Holy Trinity and Garrison Parish Church, Claremont Road, Windsor SL4 3AX. The choir would love you to join them for a programme of Christmas music to raise money for Thames Hospice and Holy Trinity Church. Tickets are £5 and available on the door. Accompanying carers and children go free. Complimentary mulled wine, soft drinks and mince pies will be served after the concert. For more information about the choir, visit the website.

• Voices Anon Christmas concert (Friday 15 December, 7.30pm) - Maidenhead Methodist Church, High Street, SL6 1EF. Admission free. A collection will be taken in aid of the Baby Bank.

• A Jazz Christmas - Aid for Ukraine (Friday 15 December, 8pm) - Maidenhead United Reformed Church, West Street. Come and listen to Christmas jazz, and sing along as well. Tickets £10 on the door, with all profits going to Aid for Ukraine. All welcome. Free refreshments.

• River Church Maidenhead's Christmas Nativity (Sunday 17 December, doors open at 11.30am, starts at midday) - Altwood School, Maidenhead. Prepare yourself for a classic retelling of the Christmas story - with a twist. Grab a mulled wine and mince pie (other drinks and snacks available). All are invited to dress up as your favourite nativity character (optional) and there will be opportunities to participate throughout the story. There will be a spread of food for lunch available following the nativity. Its free - just bring yourselves and enjoy. Any questions, please email maidenhead@riverchurch.org.uk

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 - industrial action

The ASLEF union has announced strike action on Wednesday 6 December and Thursday 7 December and a ban on overtime working from Friday 1 to Saturday 9 December that will affect train services. Check the SWR and GWR websites for updates.

Rail - engineering work

Work on a new HS2 station will affect train services into London Paddington this winter. The construction of Old Oak Common Station will involve engineering work on the existing railway, starting this month.

The impact of these works mean that on Sunday 26 November, 24 and 27 December there will be no train services into or out of London Paddington station. More information on the GWR 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.