Please share with friends, family and neighbours in the borough so they can keep up to date. Sign up here if you've received a forwarded copy.
|
|
Private landlords invited to support Afghan resettlement scheme
Following
our successful appeal for donations to support Afghan refugees, the
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead is inviting the support of
private sector landlords to help provide places for refugees to call
home.
Our
Housing Service is giving private sector landlords the opportunity to
play an important role in the response by offering accommodation for
refugees.
Officers
would like to hear from anyone who can make available self-contained
housing, of any kind, including for singles, couples and families.
Support
will be provided through our Private Rented Access Scheme, which works
with landlords and households who are on a low income or are
in receipt of welfare support. The scheme provides landlords and
tenants with a range of support services to create sustainable
tenancies.
If
you would like to know more about the scheme or offer housing for
refugees, please contact our Private Rented Sector Officer by email at Housing@RBWM.gov.uk.
|
|
Afghan refugees appeal: Donations drop-off point now closed
A
huge thank you to everyone who gave so generously to our appeal for
in-kind donations to support the Afghan refugees due to arrive in the
Royal Borough under the resettlement scheme.
In
just two weeks, we’ve been inundated with around 1,000 bags of
donations, ranging from clothing, to toiletries and baby items. These
are being sorted and categorised to ensure that items can be quickly
dispatched to those in need.
While our drop-off point for in-kind donations is now closed following this huge community response, people
wishing to make cash donations to support the resettlement scheme can
still give to the Slough Refugee Support, an established charity which
provides practical help to refugees across the Thames Valley.
Donations can be made online on the Slough Refugee Support website
where there is further information about ways to donate, or you can
call 01753 537142 for more information. Monetary donations should be
referenced “Afghan refugees”.
Any in-kind
donations which are surplus to the needs of Afghan refugees resettling
in the local area will be distributed to wider refugee groups or
homeless households in need.
|
|
Improving pedestrian access in Windsor town centre
Works to improve pedestrian access in Windsor town centre will start on Monday 6 September.
The improvements include the installation of two new benches in
Romney Lock Car Park, footway build-out outside Theatre Royal, and
infill of existing parking bays outside Lloyds Bank, Thames Street.
These works will create more space for pedestrians and aid those practising social distancing.
There should be minimal disruption during the works as roads and businesses will remain open.
|
|
Upcoming improvements to King Street, Maidenhead
Works to improve King Street, Maidenhead will start on Monday 6 September.
The works, which are part of our Missing Links project, will see
surface improvements to the section of King Street, south of High
Street. This includes installing tactile paving to indicate the crossing
at the junction with Nicholson Lane. This will improve safety for
people with visual impairments.
The works, majority funded by the Thames Valley Local Enterprise
Partnership, will last for approximately nine weeks and take place
between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday. During this time, businesses
will remain open as usual and access to them will be maintained
throughout.
|
|
Congratulations to our local Paralympic athletes
The Royal Borough would like to say huge congratulations to Maidenhead powerlifter Louise Sugden and canoer Jeanette Chippington MBE for their bronze medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
We
are looking forward to recognising all our Olympic and Paralympic
athletes once both sets of Games in Tokyo have drawn to a close on
Sunday 5 September.
To
reflect the pride felt by the whole community in their fantastic
success, the Council Leader will be putting forward our local Olympians
and Paralympians to be granted Freedom of the Royal Borough and the
Mayor will be congratulating them in person.
This honour will extend to those who were part of the team but unable to take part due to Covid.
|
|
Crucial work extends life of Windsor bridge
A £2.1 million project to extend the life of Queen Elizabeth Bridge in Windsor has been completed.
Investment in the 1960s-built infrastructure, a key link between
Windsor and the M4 motorway over the River Thames, was necessary due to
corrosion of some of the steel components over time.
The
essential repairs and improvements to the bridge included concrete
repairs, expansion joints, and waterproofing the structure.
|
|
Promoting Children's Services: Next week looks at schools
Our
communications work highlighting services and support for children and
young people is continuing into September, with a focus this week on
mental health support and the return to school.
Ahead of Youth Mental Health Day, on 7 September, we’ve raised awareness of the good work of our Wellbeing Team and Emotional Literacy Support Assistants, who work with local schools to support children with a range of issues.
We’ve
also highlighted some of the professional guidance on coping techniques
available to parents and young people to help with anxiety in children,
including the Little Blue Book of Sunshine and online advice service Kooth.
With the summer holidays having drawn to a close, we’ve also been encouraging mums and dads to swot up on the term dates for the new academic year and shared advice for parents whose children are perhaps a bit anxious about going up to secondary school this year.
Next week, our focus will be on schools, including how to become a school governor and our schools expansion programme.
|
|
Community wardens tackle cycling in pedestrianised zones
The
Royal Borough’s community wardens have been patrolling pedestrianised
no-cycling zones in Maidenhead and Windsor to raise awareness of new
enforcement powers allowing them to stop cyclists who don’t dismount.
This
is due to a new legal order which means anyone caught cycling through
pedestrianised zones in High Street, Maidenhead, and Peascod Street,
Windsor, will get a £100 fixed penalty notice and risk a fine of up to
£1,000 in court.
|
|
Could you feel better by drinking less?
The new Lower My Drinking app on Google Play or the App Store is free if you live and/or work in the Royal Borough.
The
stresses of Covid have sadly led to an increase in harmful drinking.
The recommended weekly alcohol limit for both men and women is 14 units
so if you’re regularly drinking more than this, you’re damaging your
body and mental health.
The
app offers tailored support to help you track, self-assess, and improve
your drinking habits. It helps you recognise what role alcohol plays in
your life, and the triggers influencing you to drink unhealthily. It
also gives you positive activities to replace drinking in your daily
routine.
For further help, you can refer yourself to local alcohol and drug support service Resilience via the app, or on the Cranstoun website. For more information about the app visit our website.
|
|
Chimney Fire Safety Week
As
part of September’s Home Safety Month, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue
Service (RBFRS) is supporting Chimney Fire Safety Week (ending Sunday 5
September).
Chimney
Fire Safety Week aims to reduce instances of chimney fires by raising
awareness of safe chimney use, including the importance of ensuring that
chimneys are swept regularly, are clean, and that appropriate quality
fuel is used.
For advice on ensuring your chimney is safe and fully functioning during the winter months, and for further home safety advice, visit the RBFRS website.
|
|
Get involved in local Town Forum meetings
If you’d like to have your say on issues affecting Maidenhead town, we want to hear from you.
You can suggest discussion topics for the Maidenhead Town Forum as well as attend and contribute to the virtual meeting.
The
agenda is published a week in advance, so you can see what councillors
will be discussing, and get involved if there’s a topic you’re
interested in.
Your discussion suggestions will be added to a future agenda if appropriate.
|
|
Have your say
We regularly hold consultations to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.
Responding to our consultations and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.
Our current consultations are:
|
|
M4 closures and other roadworks
The
M4 is due to be closed in both directions between junctions 3 (Hayes)
and 4b (M25 interchange) from 8pm today until 6am on Monday 6 September
The
M4 is also due to be closed next weekend between junctions 3 (Hayes)
and 4b (M25 interchange) from 8pm on Friday 10 September until 6am on
the following Monday.
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.
|
|
Keep in touch
Other accounts you may be interested in:
|
|
|
|
|
