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.
Please play your part to help to control bird flu

Sadly, bird flu cases have been found among a number of swans on the River Thames at Eton, and Defra’s disease control zone is in place as a result.

It covers a 3km (1.86 mile) radius from the river at Eton and requires all bird keepers, regardless of flock size, to undertake additional biosecurity precautions, which you can see here, over and above those already implemented nationally.

We’re asking everyone to play their part to minimise the spread and protect our swans, other waterfowl and commercial poultry flocks. Following Defra’s advice, we’ve put in place, on a precautionary and temporary basis, some targeted measures focussed around the affected area:
 
  • Dog owners are required to keep dogs on leads along the riverbanks at Windsor and Eton, including adjacent grassy areas such as The Brocas. This gives you more control over pets and reduces the risk of dogs getting involved with potentially-infected bird mess on the riverbanks and spreading the infection on their feet.

  • We’re also asking people not to feed the swans at Eton and Windsor for the time being, in order to reduce public footfall at the riverside and discourage swans and other waterfowl from congregating closely together to get food. But don’t worry, the swans definitely won’t go hungry as the charity Swan Support is monitoring the swan population and feeding in a measured way.
 
If unfortunately, you find dead wild waterfowl such as swans, geese or ducks, or other dead wild birds, such as gulls or birds of prey, please let Defra know on 03459 33 55 77. Do not touch dead or sick wild birds.

Learn more on our website.
Temporary suspension of Community Collect

During the Christmas period, we experienced unprecedented demand for our lateral flow test (LFT) home test kits, as local pharmacies and GPs supplies were low. We distributed some 5,500 kits in this time.

With our stocks of home use LFT kits now depleted, we’ve sadly had to suspend our Community Collect scheme at our leisure centres while we await delivery confirmation of our next order.

Our LFT Assisted Testing site at Braywick Leisure Centre does however remain open, as normal, for all our residents as we have a large supply of these tests. Find out more about this service on our website (Option 3).

We cannot hand out assisted testing LFTs for home use as they’re not designed for this. However, care home, education, and NHS professionals can use assisted LFT kits at home, so we’re working with our partners to enable this.

Supply issues for home use LFTs is being felt nationally. We're doing all we can to secure the speedy delivery of our next batch of home use LFTs which we're ready to receive weekends and evenings if needed.

We’ll let you know, on our website and social media, when we get our delivery. In the meantime, for alternative sources of home test kits visit the Government's LFT web page.
Reminder - time running out to take part in our budget consultation

Residents, community groups and businesses have two weeks left to take part in the Royal Borough’s consultation on our proposed budget.

This proposed budget for 2022/23 is an investment budget that looks to support our most vulnerable residents while ensuring we continue to provide high quality services for all.

Following robust budgets in February 2020 and 2021, the proposals aim to significantly increase levels of investment and growth in key areas, and to support the delivery of our priorities in our Corporate Plan.

Your feedback will help inform discussions when the draft budget is debated at Full Council on Tuesday 22 February 2022.  

To take part in the consultation, which started in early December and closes on Monday 31 January, visit the RBWM Together website.

More information is available in our press release.
Don’t make resolutions, make habits

This January, we are running a communications campaign encouraging everyone to make positive choices and commit to healthier habits in order to improve their health and wellbeing.

Last week, we looked at how people can kick bad habits and addictions by using the Lower My Drinking app, Gloji’s 12-week weight loss programme, and Frimley Health and Care’s quit smoking resources.

This week, we are encouraging everyone to explore the Royal Borough by bike, and promoting local volunteering opportunities with Goodgym Windsor and Maidenhead and the RBWM Together website, and a 14-week Maidenhead football league which launches today.

Make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with our campaign.
Schools plant trees to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee

Children from more than 30 schools across the Royal Borough have planted over 1,000 trees as part of an initiative to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year.

The trees will form part of the Queen’s Green Canopy, a project which invites people from across the UK to ‘Plant a Tree for the Jubilee’.

The council offered a batch of small trees to all the borough’s schools, colleges and nurseries to mark the celebration. These were of mixed species and were mainly native such as hawthorn, crab-apple, silver birch, field maple, holly, hornbeam, scots pine, wild cherry and rowan.

Planting trees is an important part of our Environment and Climate Strategy which sets out our vision and actions to achieve the borough's net-zero emissions target by 2050 at the latest. 

For more information, read our press release.
Enjoy Maidenhead is becoming Make Maidenhead

Enjoy Maidenhead, our social media account which celebrates all the wonderful shops, markets, and events happening in and around Maidenhead, is becoming Make Maidenhead.

Make sure you stay in the loop by following Make Maidenhead on Facebook.
Take part in Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s Council Tax consultation

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority (RBFA) is consulting on Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s (RBFRS) funding through Council Tax for the next financial year.

Fire authorities such as RBFA are in the lowest quartile nationally in terms of Council Tax charges but face the greatest challenges in addressing immediate pressures.

The fire authority say their proposed £5 increase for an average band D property in 2022/23 will enable RBFRS to continue to provide a modern and effective fire service for all residents across Berkshire.

RBFRS is encouraging everyone who lives, works, or travels in Berkshire to have their say on their survey, which is open until 5pm on Tuesday 1 February.

To learn more, visit the RBFRS website.
Royal Borough community spotlight

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

  • Spring concert - (7.30pm Saturday 5 March) - St Mary’s Church, Maidenhead. The Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra (WMSO) will be performing a selection of pieces by Walton, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky for their Spring 2022 concert. Book your tickets and find out more on the WMSO website 

  • 1947 Thames flood exhibition opening soon – Maidenhead Heritage Centre are opening an exhibition early next month to mark the 75th anniversary of the disastrous 1947 Thames flood. Residents who have memories of the flood, or other more recent flooding, between Hurley and Bray are encouraged share their stories with the centre via email 

  • Want to sing like no one is listening? Join Maidenhead Tuneless Choir! - This choir is for anyone who enjoys singing but doesn’t necessarily have the vocal talent for singing in parts. It’s zero pressure, zero judgement and is just about having fun and going for it. Anyone interested in joining can contact Tabitha via email or call 07813 649341. Tabitha promises that no one will be turned away for being too bad a singer

  • Sign up for Voices Anon – Aiming to introduce adults of all ages to the skills, techniques, and fun of choral singing, Voices Anon is a great way for members to improve their vocal skills and sing for their own enjoyment. They rehearse on Thursday evenings at St Prian’s School, Maidenhead, and perform at least two concerts a year. Please email to register your interest in joining. More information can be found on the Voices Anon website 

If you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or activity 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 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.
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 directions between Junctions 3 (Hayes) and 4b (M25 interchange) from 4am tomorrow (Saturday 15) until 6am on Monday 17 January.

The M4 is also due to be closed in both directions between Junctions 4b (M25 interchange) and 5 (Langley) from 8pm on Friday 21 January to 6am on Monday 24 January.

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.
Keep in touch

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