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Major expansion at Bray Studios to bring economic and cultural boost to our borough

Maidenhead Development Control Panel has resolved to grant planning permission for expansion of the iconic Bray Studios. The provision of a three-production filming campus with modern facilities will ensure it is well placed to attract more high-profile film & TV productions.

This will enable significant investment, jobs and training opportunities, securing the long-term future of Bray Studios, capturing the economic benefits for the Royal Borough, and cementing our future as a creative centre in film & TV.

For more information, read the BBC's article.
Missing Links works on A4 near completion

Works on a new signalised pedestrian and cycle crossing on Bad Godesberg Way, Maidenhead (A4), part of the Missing Links cycle scheme, are nearing completion. The final stage, the installation of a new, safe crossing at Kidwells Park, will take place between Monday 15 and Thursday 25 November.

Traffic management will be in place between Castle Hill roundabout and Cookham Road roundabout while the new signalised crossing poles and traffic signals are installed and road markings for the crossing painted in.

Lane closures will be in place between 9:30am and 3:30pm during weekdays only until Wednesday 24 November. One lane on either side of Bad Godesberg Way will remain open to minimise disruption, but motorists are advised to consider their journey during this time.

Read our press release to learn more.
Littering is a costly mistake

As the COP26 climate conference comes to an end today, the Royal Borough is reminding everyone to ensure you always put the environment first and don’t litter. 

Two borough residents were both fined £220, with £150 costs and a £34 victim surcharge each at Reading Magistrates’ Court in September. 

They had dropped cigarette butts, contrary to section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and failed to pay the fixed penalty notice issued as a result.

The Royal Borough takes a zero-tolerance approach against all forms of environmental crime, including fly-tipping, dog-fouling and littering, which unfortunately pollutes the environment for everyone. 

To learn more, read our press release.
Scrutiny Panel to review grounds maintenance

A review of the performance of the council’s contract for grounds maintenance is on the agenda of the Communities Overview & Scrutiny Panel on Thursday 18 November 2021. The meeting will take place at 7pm in the Grey Rooms, York House, Windsor.
 
If you would like to speak on the item at the meeting (in person or virtually), please register with Shilpa Manek, clerk, via email: shilpa.manek@rbwm.gov.uk by 5pm on Wednesday 17 November 2021. You can also watch the meeting livestream on our YouTube page.
Royal Borough comes together to remember the fallen

Thank you to everyone who attended our Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial outside Maidenhead Town Hall yesterday morning. We were pleased to see such a great attendance.

You are invited to attend our Remembrance Sunday (14 November) civic services from 10.50am in Windsor and Maidenhead.

The Windsor service will be held at the war memorial on Windsor High Street outside the Parish Church of St John the Baptist and will be attended by the Mayor. Councillor John Story.

The Maidenhead service will be held at the War Memorial outside Maidenhead Town Hall, and will be attended by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Gary Muir.

Our Sunday services will observe a two-minute silence at 11am.

Learn more in our press release.
Upcoming road closures for Christmas lights switch-ons

Please be aware that temporary road closures will be in place in order for Christmas celebrations in our town centres to go ahead.

We'll be holding our traditional light switch-on events in Eton on Thursday 18 November, with Windsor's following on Saturday 20 November and Maidenhead's on Saturday 27 November.

Several roads will be closed in the towns on those days to enable the events, and the preparation needed to set them up, to take place.

There will be live music, entertainment and festive food and drink. Read our press release for more about the events, the highways arrangements and on-street parking suspensions.
Our Community Wardens’ top safety tips for this winter season

The Royal Borough's Community Wardens would like to remind everyone of these winter safety tips.

  • The Food Standards Agency website can help you make informed choices about where to eat out
  • If travelling home from an evening out plan your journey and, if using a taxi, make sure that it’s a black cab or licensed vehicle
  • If displaying a Christmas tree outside your home or business ensure it’s located on your property, not the public highway. As an alternative, community groups could arrange for Christmas trees to be situated on private land with the owner’s consent
  • Make sure your house is secure, and do not leave expensive items or presents by the window or on display
  • Use a timer switch for your lights at home so you can change the times that the lights come on to simulate an occupied property
  • De-mist/de-ice your windscreen thoroughly to ensure full visibility before travelling
  • Slow down if driving in snow or icy conditions.
NHS Vaccine Bus visiting Eton Wick

The vaccine bus is due to visit Eton Wick and Boveney Village Hall, Eton Wick Road, Windsor SL4 6LT, next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (15 to 17 November).

The NHS team will be inside the building, in the Youth Club on the ground floor, from noon to 8pm each day. You don’t need to book an appointment and they’ll be offering first, second, and booster jabs. 

Eton Wick is one of the areas in the borough where vaccine take-up is lower which is why the team is visiting. This is also why White Waltham and Datchet were chosen as venues for the NHS Vaccine Bus these the past few weeks.

It’s never ever too late to get your jab.
What would you do with your funding?

There’s still time to apply. The deadline is Sunday 21 November.

You can use this one-off funding in the way that best suits your community or members, to encourage vaccine take-up.

Perhaps it could provide volunteers to help people book or go get their jabs? Maybe pay for telephone calls or publicity material to refute vaccine myths? Even subsidise your group’s membership to first time vaxxers?

You may have different ideas. Apply online on our website.
Understanding starts with hello

Start a conversation with a neighbour or someone in your community to build trust and friendship, suggests Paul Samuels from the Windsor and Maidenhead Community Forum (WAMCF).

The WAMCF, which represents nine faiths across the Royal Borough, says such a simple action reaching out to others would help celebrate this year’s national Inter Faith Week, which runs from Sunday 14 to Sunday 21 November. The WAMCF and Inter Faith Week both strive to raise awareness and understanding between different religions.

Started some 40 years ago, the WAMCF also holds events for people of different faiths and cultures to come together and contribute towards enriching the lives of everyone across the borough.

To find out more about the WAMCF visit its website or, for National Inter Faith Week, visit the Inter Faith Week website.
Would you like to help your local community?

If you would like to do more to support your local community, consider attending People to Places’ community empowerment meeting.

Taking place from 10am-12pm on Wednesday 24 November at St Joseph’s Church, Maidenhead, the session will outline the work they do, the importance of volunteers and how you can get involved in supporting your community.

People to Places provide community transport and Shopmobility services to grant greater independence to residents in the Royal Borough and help to tackle isolation.

To learn more, check out the event poster or visit the People to Places website.
Royal Borough community spotlight

Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough.

  • Maidenhead music concert – (7.30pm Thursday 18 November) – Norden Farm Centre for the Arts. Favourite Beethoven and Chopin piano solos performed by renowned pianist Piers Lane. Under 18s go free with an adult ticket holder. To learn more and book your tickets, visit the Maidenhead Music Society website.

  • Autumn Fayre – (10am-1pm Saturday 20 November) - Cookham Dean Village Hall. A range of stalls including a raffle for super hampers, tombola, home-cooked food, home-made cakes and much more. Refreshments will also be available. Visit the Cookham Dean Church website to learn more. 

  • Pop-up charity Christmas market (Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 November) - The Hub, Unit 15, Maidenhead. Alexander Divine Children’s Hospice is holding a charity Christmas market with a wide selection of new and pre-loved toys, games, and books in addition to Christmas treats and local crafts. Visit the Alexander Divine website to learn more. 

  • Christmas market - (11am-2pm Saturday 20 November) - St Andrews Church, Clewer. Enjoy the variety of stalls selling items including miniature Christmas trees, home produce and wreaths. Learn more on their website. 

  • Christmas market in the Quad - (2-5pm Sunday 28 November) - All Saints Church, Maidenhead. Join us for Christmas gifts, jewellery, local produce and festive cheer. There will also be singing from the infamous Tuneless Choir of Maidenhead'. Visit their Facebook event page to learn more. 

  • Holyport Whist Club Meeting from 2-4pm on alternate Tuesdays at Holyport Memorial Hall, the club are welcoming new members, including beginners. Contact Jeanette Sperling on 01753 853131 or email jeanettesperling37@gmail.com for more information.

If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity you’d like to promote in our Residents’ Newsletter, simply send basic information about your event to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with over 19,000 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.
Get involved in local town forum meetings 

If you’d like to have your say on issues affecting Windsor town, we want to hear from you. 

You can suggest discussion topics for the Windsor Town Forum as well as attend and contribute to the virtual meetings. 

Agendas are 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. 

The next Windsor Town Forum is on Tuesday 16 November (next week). 

To learn about how to get involved, email oran.norris-browne@rbwm.gov.uk. You can watch the meetings live on our YouTube channel
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:


More information can be found on the consultations pages of our website. 
M4 closures

The M4 is due to be closed in both overnight directions between junctions 3 (Hayes) and 4b (M25 interchange) from today until Monday 15 November. The closures will start after 8pm each evening and the motorway will reopen by 6am the following morning.

The M4 will also be closed in both directions from Friday 19 to Monday 22 November between Junctions 5 (Langley) and 6 (Slough-Windsor).

Visit the Highways England website for more details on the M4 smart motorway scheme.

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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