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Taking steps to protect yourself from flooding


Following heavy rain in recent weeks, a number of flood warnings and alerts have been issued for the borough by the Environment Agency.

 

Water levels on the River Thames are rising as a result of this period of sustained heavy rain, and this is likely to continue over the weekend. We’re monitoring the situation closely and liaising with colleagues from the Environment Agency and other partners.


Flood warnings have been issued today by the Agency for properties closest to the River Thames at Old Windsor, from Friday Island to Magna Carta Island, and for properties closest to the River Thames at Wraysbury, from Old Windsor Weir to Magna Carta Island. More information is available on the agency website here and here.


Flood alerts issued remain in place for:

  •  the Thames from Datchet to Shepperton Green
  •  the Thames from Hurley to Cookham
  • the Colne Brook at Iver and Colnbrook
  • Chertsey Bourne.


The Agency provides advice on what to do if you get a flood warning, flood alert, or severe flood warning and this can be found here.


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.

 

Our website also has lots of useful information, including how to report flooding in the borough. You can find more advice in our leaflet here.

Yellow Cold Health Alert issued for South East

 

This Yellow Alert for the South East is due to start at 9am tomorrow (6 January) and last until midday next Friday (12 January). 

 

If you can, check in on relatives and loved ones aged 65 plus, or at any age if they’ve got underlying health conditions. But remember, all ages can be affected by this chilly weather.

 

Try to maintain the indoor temperature in your home at 18°Celsius. And be aware that some healthcare services may be busier due to increased demand, even more so with the junior doctors’ strike this weekend and early into next week.

 

See advice on keeping warm, well, and safe in cold weather.

Be your best self - supporting physical and mental wellbeing

 

Eight real life Royal Borough residents are leading our January public health campaign, showing you how they’ve transformed their physical and mental wellbeing during the past year.


Paula, Jason, Ade, Thomas, Justin, Laila, Ronald, and Dawn were each referred via their GPs to Health and Wellbeing Coaching as they were suffering from a variety of conditions including dangerously high blood pressure, weight issues, social isolation, depression, alcoholism, and liver disease.


Health and Wellbeing Coaching empowers people who’ve lost their confidence, and feel trapped in a rut, with the skills to take back control of their lives. Not just for the present but maintain it.


Meet them on our Facebook and X platforms or read their stories in full on RBWM Together. We’ve reimagined their identities to safeguard their privacy, but the words are all theirs. 

Reminder: Share your views on Royal Borough’s proposed 2024/25 budget

 

Residents, community groups and businesses still have time to take part in a public consultation on our draft budget proposals, which runs until Monday 22 January.

 

At this stage, the budget proposals provisionally set out a balanced position for 2024/25 and work will continue ahead of the final budget being presented to Full Council in February.

 

To take part in the consultation, visit RBWM Together. Paper copies of the consultation documents are also available in all borough libraries upon request. Read more in our press release.

Final phase of Windsor footbridge refurbishment gets underway

 

Works to complete the extensive refurbishment of a footbridge in Windsor, which aims to enhance the sense of welcome into the town centre, started this week.

 

The investment in this important gateway into Windsor, which connects the Coach Park to the town centre for pedestrians, is required to maintain the bridge and is part of our wider improvements to visitors' arrival into Windsor. 

 

The final phase involves the full closure of the bridge for about 17 weeks, with signposted alternative routes and lift access in place from the Coach Park to the town centre and castle. Access to all businesses will be maintained throughout.


The final phase will comprise the complete cleaning and repainting of the steel bridge structure, preventative maintenance and anti-corrosion works, installation of new bridge lighting, cleaning the Perspex canopy and applying a mirror film to the underside of the canopy. Phase one is complete and saw the bridge lift refurbished. Read more in our press release.

Reminder: Mums and dads - applications still open for primary and junior school admissions

 

Applications remain open for parents of children starting primary school, or moving up to junior school, in September 2024. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2024.

 

Parents of children born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 can now apply for a reception place.

 

Parents of children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 attending infant school can apply for a junior school place.

 

To find our more and to apply, visit our website.

Using local NHS services wisely during the junior doctor strike

 

The strike by junior doctors until 9 January means NHS Frimley services are busier with longer waits, and priority given to those in most urgent need.

 

To ensure you get the right help as quickly as possible, NHS Frimley asks that you choose the most appropriate service and only use 999 and A&E for serious or life-threatening emergencies. For non-emergencies, use an alternative NHS service or contact NHS 111 first either online or by phone.


The Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge, Bracknell is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm – no appointment needed. It treats sprains and strains, broken limbs (with plaster or a splint), minor head injuries, cuts and grazes, minor scalds and burns and wound infections.


Your GP practice offers same day primary care appointments which may be at your usual surgery or at another location, such as St Marks Urgent Primary Care Centre. This offers same day urgent care for both minor illness and minor injuries for Maidenhead registered patients. Your GP or NHS 111 can book you onto this service.


If your child is unwell, and you’re not sure where to get the best advice, visit the NHS Frimley Healthier Together website or download the app. Designed by local experts, it provides support to help you manage a range of common childhood illnesses.

Maidenhead Town Forum and Windsor Forum - get involved

 

You are welcome to attend, listen to the discussion, ask questions and suggest items for future agendas at the next Maidenhead Town Forum and Windsor Forum meetings.

 

The next Windsor Forum will be held on Thursday 11 January at York House, Windsor from 6.30pm. The next Maidenhead Town Forum will be held on Monday 15 January at Maidenhead Town Hall, also from 6.30pm.

 

The meetings will also be streamed live on the council’s YouTube channel.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight


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


  • Maidenhead Women’s Group for European Friendship lecture (Wednesday 10 January, 10.30am) - United Reform Church in Maidenhead. “West Wycombe Park and the Dashwoods” by Peter Hague. For more information, visit the website.


  • Cooking for One course (starting Thursday 11 January for six weeks). Age Concern Windsor is running a new six week course where you can cook, eat and learn together with discussions about how to adapt recipes, money saving ideas. £8 a session - you will learn to cook and eat six two-course meals together. Price includes all costs. For more information call 01753 860685 9.30am to 3.30pm) or email info@ageconcernwindsor.org.uk


  • The Quince Players pantomime - Ba Ba Land (Show dates - Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 January and Thursday 18 to Saturday 20 January). The Cordes Hall, Sunninghill. The not-for-profit, local am-dram society is pleased to announce the world premiere of a brand new pantomime, Ba Ba Land, written by local authors David and Fiona Barker. With nursery rhyme characters such as Bo Beep, Old Mother Hubbard and the Big Bad Wolf, you can expect all the classic elements of a panto. Entertainment for all the family. For more information and tickets, visit, the website.


  • Lunchbreak litter pick (Friday 12 January 2024, 12.30pm to 1.30pm) - Boyn Grove Open Space and Play Area, Maidenhead, SL6 6JD. Meet Amy from GoodGym Windsor and Maidenhead at Boyn Grove Park and work together to gather litter from the park and surrounding streets. Litter picking equipment will be provided, or if you can't make it to Boyn Grove Park then feel free to tackle litter in your own area. For more information, visit the website.


  • Wednesday night is GoodGym night (Wednesday 17 January, 6.45pm to 8.30pm). Every Wednesday evening the group runs or walks to somewhere in Maidenhead where help is needed with a practical task. Typical tasks are things like gardening, painting, litter picking and helping move boxes. Beneficiaries include local charities, schools and community projects and venues. Everyone is welcome. You can choose whether you run or walk and no specific skills or experience are needed for the task - just a willingness to pitch in. Many hands make light work and the group always has a sociable time. For more information, visit the website.


  • Royal Reminiscence, dementia-friendly mornings (Last Wednesday of each month from 10.30am) - Pug Yard Learning Centre (please use the entrance on St Alban's Street). 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 Castle. For more information, visit the website or call Amy on 07860 612393.


  • Volunteer drivers needed for Maidenhead Care. The group are looking for volunteer drivers to transport mainly elderly Maidenhead residents to appointments both in the local area and further a field. Fuel expenses covered. For more information, visit the website or call 07538 418448.


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.

Our consultations - have your say


We regularly hold consultations and surveys to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.


Participating, sharing ideas, and giving your feedback is the best way to ensure your views are heard.


Our current consultations are:

Local Travel Updates


Rail - engineering work


Planned engineering works are taking place on the South Western Railway network this weekend, Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 January.


The lines in the Virginia Water area will be closed all weekend due to maintenance work and this will affect train services. On Sunday, the line between Ascot and Aldershot will be closed all day due to maintenance work. For full details, visit the SWR 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


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