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Are you heatwave-ready?
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Met Office have issued a Level Three Heat alert for the South East, which started today (Friday 17 June) and is due to end at 9am on Sunday 19 June.
A
Level Three warning is triggered when the threshold temperature – for
the South East it’s 31 degrees daytime/16 degrees night-time - will be
reached for one day and the following night, and the forecast for the
following day has more than a 90% chance of again meeting that
threshold.
Please
look out for others, especially older people, young children, babies
and those with underlying health conditions. Close curtains on rooms
that face the sun to keep indoor spaces cooler - remember it may be
cooler outdoors than indoors. Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess
alcohol, dress appropriately for the weather and slow down.
Please also remember to be safe around water. During warmer
weather, it can be tempting to jump into cold water to help you cool
off, but water temperatures are still dangerously cold and can quite
literally take your breath away.
If you get into trouble in the water, remember to stay calm, lean
back and use your arms and legs to help you float, and control your
breathing.
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Help water your local trees
Young trees on the verges of your street can suffer during a
heatwave. There is no rain forecast for the rest of June, but you can
help them to thrive by watering them with water from a tap or water butt
a few times a week.
We water saplings for a number of years to help them establish, but
when the temperature is higher than usual and particularly for
prolonged periods, some of our young trees might enjoy a little more
water and extra watering is welcomed. Thank you.
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Executive Chairman appointed to independent Climate Partnership
A pioneering new Climate Partnership established to involve the community in tackling climate change and help deliver our Environment and Climate Strategy has appointed its Executive Chairman.
Barnaby
Briggs (centre in photo), who has extensive experience in the
conservation, energy, and charity sectors, has been appointed by the
Partnership’s board.
The
Climate Partnership will be a Community Interest Company, separate to
the council, and already has a board with community, public and private
sector representatives. The board will serve an initial term of 12
months.
A ground-breaking approach in Berkshire, potentially nationally, the partnership will lead the way in uniting the community in tackling climate change, helping everyone to work together to play their part, take action, and bring about change.
Councillor
Andrew Johnson, leader of the council, said: “The climate crisis is
everyone’s problem, and it is up to each of us to do what we can to make
a difference. The Climate Partnership is an exciting step forward that
can accelerate our collective impact, and I urge anyone with an interest
in climate and the environment to join.”
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Community thanked as Cabinet asked to give go-ahead to consult on key planning document for South West Maidenhead
The Royal Borough’s Cabinet will be asked on Thursday 23 June
to approve a public consultation next month on a key planning document
for South West Maidenhead. This major development area will bring
much-needed new homes, community facilities, employment space and
improved public access to green space.
South
West Maidenhead will meet, in a managed way, a significant proportion
of the Royal Borough’s future housing need, delivering a sustainable new
urban extension as part of Maidenhead’s regeneration and guarding
against unsupported piecemeal development well away from towns and
villages in the green belt.
As
the first stage in the planning process, the council’s Planning Policy
team invited the community to three online events during spring 2022, to
share thinking around key considerations and help inform the production
of a site-specific Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
Having
considered initial public feedback, officers have produced the draft
SPD document, shaped around the three key considerations of Sustainability and the Environment, Connectivity, and Community Needs. On Thursday, Cabinet will be asked to consider the draft and approve a six-week public consultation, starting early in July.
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Royal Borough provides bikes to more than 40 schools to help with road safety education
Bicycles are being given to 43 first and primary schools across the borough to assist with road safety education.
Each
school will be provided with six balance bikes – training bikes without
pedals - six pedal bikes, 12 helmets, as well as an equipment kit bag
and training to aid learning as part of the My Travel Choices project,
which is being part funded by South Western Railway.
The
project aims to give children easy and regular access to a bike at an
early age, help them learn how to ride and control a bike, and enhance
the road safety and cycling proficiency programmes that are already
being provided to schools. It also aims to give children an
understanding of the sustainable travel options available to them from a
young age and encourage their use.
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Supporting those participating in Homes for Ukraine
We
are continuing to work to support local residents participating in the
Homes for Ukraine scheme and the guests they are accommodating in their
homes and spare self-contained properties.
Homes
for Ukraine is a national scheme and we’ve responded as a priority to
the Government’s request to ensure comprehensive support is in place for
hosts and their guests, working through national guidance as it
emerged, putting in place the extra resources and new procedures.
To
coordinate effective and targeted wrap-around support for hosts and
their guests, we’ve introduced two new dedicated Homes for Ukraine
Welfare Officers within the Housing Service, who will visit and keep in
touch with all participating households. They can be contacted by hosts
or Ukrainians at welfareteam@RBWM.gov.uk
We’ve long had in place a dedicated Ukraine support webpage
and telephone support line, as well as a welcome guide for Ukrainians
with information about local services. We’ve also supported the charity
Open Arms to produce a substantial welcome pack for hosts and prospective hosts, detailing more about support, along with a flowchart illustrating the Homes for Ukraine process. We will have a continued partnership with Open Arms.
We’re
pleased to have made the £200 welcome payments to all guests that have
arrived so far. Officers are visiting all properties to complete the
required accommodation inspections, safeguarding and other checks on a
priority basis, with checks fully complete at several host households,
which are now receiving their £350 monthly ‘thank you’ payments.
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Love Your Community – Supporting community safety
So
far, under our “Love Your Community” communications campaign, we’ve
been highlighting our work helping residents who want to make a positive
contribution to their neighbourhoods – whether through volunteering or
getting involved in community initiatives.
Part of us supporting communities as a council is working with our partners to help keep the community safe and tackle
the minority of people who sadly break the rules and undermine everyone
else. Our campaign across Facebook and Twitter is now shifting focus to
these regulatory services.
This
week, we’re looking at our work with Thames Valley Police and other
partners to tackle local crime and disorder through the Community Safety
Partnership. The partnership’s priorities are to reduce exploitation
and violence, cut violence against women and girls, prevent
radicalisation, address multi-agency safety issues and deliver community
initiatives.
Our Community Wardens
are a high visibility, reassuring presence, working with partners to
support community safety locally. Often seen out on their routine and
targeted patrols, their focus is deterring anti-social behaviour, crime
prevention, enforcement operations and community engagement.
Their
varied role includes reporting suspicious behaviour to police, tackling
environmental problems like littering, graffiti and dog-fouling,
dispersing groups causing anti-social behaviour and engaging with
vulnerable residents to provide advice and support. If you've seen
fly-tipping in the borough, or have information to help identify an
offender, please report on our website.
This
evening, we’ll also be highlighting the work of our CCTV control room to
maintain public safety. The operatives work with police to monitor and
review footage 24 hours, 7 days a week. They can spot known individuals,
help search for missing people and investigate concerns for welfare and
more. Follow us on the Twitter #CCTVFriday from 6pm today to discover more.
Our campaign will also include the work of Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Licensing.
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Borough’s first World Café a great success
Some
70 people attended the Royal Borough’s first World Café on Wednesday,
held in Woody’s Café at Clewer Memorial Recreation Ground in Windsor.
Residents
had honest conversations with a range of local organisations and
support groups to find ways to help people cope with the current rise in
the cost of living. The best ideas often come from informal discussions.
These organisations included public
health, libraries, social prescribers, Healthwatch, Optalis, Thames
Hospice, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue, Windsor Foodshare, Windsor
Cycle Hub, and People to Places. Legoland, which is supporting all the
events, provided the raffle prize of a family ticket. All attendees also
received a free goody bag containing food provided by the West Windsor Hub.
There are plans to hold these free World Cafes in every ward across the borough. The next ones are due to be held in Ascot and Sunninghill on Thursday 7 July, in Hurley and Walthams on Thursday 21 July, and in Clewer and Dedworth West on Tuesday 9 August. For more details visit the World Café page on RWBM Together.
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Reminder: How to claim your energy rebate if you don’t pay Council Tax by Direct Debit
If
you are in a Band A to D household and do not pay your Council Tax by
Direct Debit, please remember to complete the online form on the Grant Approval website with your bank account and other details to claim your £150 energy rebate from Government to help with increased energy costs.
Please
be vigilant for scams related to the energy rebate. Only use the above
website to make claims and remember that the council will never cold call you to collect your bank account details in order to pay the energy rebate. More information on the energy rebate scheme, including the national eligibility criteria, can be found on our energy rebate webpage.
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Take part in upcoming Sawyers Close public consultation
Housing
association Abri will share details of its latest proposals for the
potential redevelopment of Sawyers Close, Windsor at a public
consultation on Saturday 26 June.
Taking
place from 1pm to 5pm at the New Windsor Community Association Centre
on Hanover Way, Abri is inviting its tenants and the wider community
living around Sawyers Close to visit the exhibition to view the latest
proposals and leave their feedback with the project team.
The Royal Borough is working in partnership with Abri to promote the sessions and look at redevelopment proposals for the site.
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Learn about Berkshire’s health habits
Public Health Berkshire’s 2021/22 Annual Report has been published, and for the first time is available digitally.
The report looks at the health of people across Berkshire with its focus this year on food. This is because what
we eat has a profound effect not only on our individual health and
susceptibility to various diseases, but also on the health of our
planet.
This report highlights
how Covid’s impact made us rethink our local grocery shopping habits as
a result. It shows, for example, during the pandemic, how charities
distributed free food from supermarkets and how shops, hospitals,
schools, and voluntary groups created vegetable plots – as well as how
we can continue this great thinking.
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Are you aged 11 to 25? Have your say in the Royal Borough Youth Council's survey
The
Royal Borough’s Youth Council want to hear from residents aged from 11
to 25 on how the Youth Council can best help our local community, as
part of their 2022 survey.
Their
survey covers mental health services in schools, our local libraries,
and transport in the community. Your feedback will influence the Youth
Council’s focus and efforts in the coming year.
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Royal Borough community spotlight
Here are just some of the upcoming community events in the Royal Borough:
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Garden open day (Sunday
19 June, 11am to 4pm) – St Timothee, Darlings Lane, Pinkneys Green,
Maidenhead. An open day at the winner of last year’s ‘Nation’s Favourite
Garden Award’. Explore two acres of private garden and enjoy homemade
cakes and tea. Tickets are £6 (free for children). All money raised will
go towards the National Garden Scheme which supports a range of nursing
and caring charities
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Maidenhead Duck Derby
(Sunday 19 June, 1pm to 5pm) – Boulters Lock, Maidenhead. Maidenhead
Lions are holding their annual duck derby featuring fun fair
attractions, a Punch & Judy show, and the children’s duck hunt with
prizes for various age groups. Learn more on their website
-
Nursery Rhymes of London Town
(Monday 20 June at 11.30am) – Baylis Theatre, Braywick Leisure
Centre. An Arts Society Maidenhead lecture by Caroline Walker,
looking at the whimsical verses of Eleanor Farjeon. Tickets are £10 for
non-members, email membershipmaidenhead@theartssociety.org, or just come along
-
Make Music Day
(Tuesday 21 June, 3pm to 4.30pm) – Maidenhead Library Amphitheatre.
Make Music Day is a celebration of music-making around the world, and
everyone is invited to take part in this year’s celebrations. Old or
young, amateur or professional, just about every musical style is
represented. If you would like to take part, please come along for an
African drumming and percussion workshop. Learn more on their Twitter account
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Vivaldi Gloria
(Thursday 23 June, 7pm) – Windsor Parish Church, St John The Baptist.
St George’s School Windsor Castle’s renowned Chamber Choir present
Vivaldi’s Gloria along with Britten’s Rejoice in the Lamb and other
choral favourites, as part of the series of events marking the 200th
anniversary of Windsor Parish Church. Tickets are available from Eventbrite, priced at just £12 per person, plus Eventbrite booking fee
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Community fundraising concert
(Thursday 14 July, 7.30pm) – Furze Platt Senior School theatre. Join
the 50-piece woodwind and brass Maidenhead concert band who will be
playing everything from Glenn Miller to well-known Disney tracks at this
family-friendly event. There will also be a silent auction and raffle.
Profits from the show will go to Furze Platt and their PTFA. Tickets are
£8 for adults and £5 for concessions and can be bought on the Ticket Source 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 20,000 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.
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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:
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Rail services impacted by upcoming strikes
Great
Western Railway and South Western Railway are asking people to only
travel by rail if necessary next week due to strikes taking place
between Tuesday 21 June and Saturday 25 June.
Local travel updates
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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Keep in touch
Other accounts you may be interested in:
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