We've renewed safer cycling and dog control measures following public consultation

Cabinet has agreed to continue measures helping to promote responsible dog control in public places and encourage safer cycling in town centres.

Last night’s decision follows a successful public consultation and means two Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), legal orders first introduced in April 2021, have now been extended for a further three years, before they expire next month.

What are the measures?

The first PSPO allows our Community Wardens and the police to enforce existing no-cycling rules by asking cyclists to stop and dismount in the busy pedestrianised areas of Peascod Street, Windsor and High Street, Maidenhead. After considering consultation feedback, Cabinet has asked our officers to carry out a follow-up consultation on a suggestion put forward by several local cycling groups, to amend this PSPO so it only operates from 10am to 5pm.

The second PSPO means anyone caught dog-fouling in a public place anywhere in the borough will continue to risk a £100 fixed penalty notice. The order also allows our wardens or police to ask a dog owner to put their pet on a lead if it’s loose and causing harassment, alarm or distress in a public place. Read more in our press release.

Residents in the Royal Borough encouraged to sign-up for free Multiply adult numeracy courses

Free adult numeracy courses to help our residents improve their maths skills and unlock opportunities are now open for enrolment.

Multiply is delivering the Government-funded courses for residents in various areas of Berkshire, including our borough.

These latest sessions start next month following the range of courses that were on offer last year. They are open to people aged 19 and over who do not have GCSE maths at grade C, or the equivalent, or need to brush up on their maths skills for work or with household budgeting.

For more information, including how to enrol, read our press release.

Campaign to focus on action for the environment

Our new communications campaign, Supporting a Sustainable Borough, starts next week and will run for the whole of April, incorporating Earth Day on 22 April.

As a council, one of our key priorities is to take action to tackle climate change and its consequences and improve our natural environment.

The campaign will highlight our own strategies and actions, celebrate partnership working and highlight practical ways you can play a valuable part to support ongoing efforts to do more for the environment.  

Achieving a sustainable future is a collective community effort – we all have a part to play in tackling climate change and its consequences.

Stay tuned to this e-newsletter and our Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) channels for more information, tips and how you can get involved.

Reminder: Come along to our community workshop to help shape Berkshire’s blueprint for nature recovery

Communities across Berkshire are invited to participate in workshops and a county-wide survey to help shape important plans for protecting and improving natural habitats in the county.

Berkshire’s six councils, led by us at the Royal Borough, are keen to involve residents, landowners, NGOs, developers, community groups and others to create a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the county during 2024.

It will prioritise where time and investment are most needed to improve, protect, or enlarge habitats, create wildlife corridors, or create new habitats on land or around watercourses. It will support joint working around nature recovery and focus the decisions, expertise and investment of many individuals and partner organisations, alongside helping to inform and support funding bids for specific projects.

To get involved, you can share your thoughts in our survey here until 7 May, or register an interest in attending our in-person workshop at Braywick Nature Centre on 8 April or our online workshop on 30 April. Read more in our press release.

Reminder: Bin collections are not affected this Easter

We collect household waste and recycling on Bank Holiday dates (excluding Christmas and New Year).

If your bin is due to be collected on a day which is a designated Bank Holiday this Easter, please put it at the kerbside by 7am on the day as usual.

Please remember to recycle your Easter egg packaging - the cardboard boxes, the plastic it sits in and the foil wrapping can all be recycled in your blue bin. 

Visit our waste webpage for more information about what can go in each bin.

Easter pharmacies and medical care

If you do need a local pharmacy tomorrow, or on Easter Monday, find a list of local open ones on the NHS South East website. 

Also, having a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home, will save you popping out to find a pharmacy – speeding up your recovery. Click here to see a list of what should be in your cabinet. 

But should you need more support than a pharmacy this weekend, choosing the right service will get you the right care faster. Check which service is right for your medical need on NHS Frimley’s Health and Care website.

Library opening hours this Easter

• Friday 29 March – closed
• Saturday 30 March – normal opening hours 
• Sunday 31 March – closed
• Monday 1 April - closed

For normal opening hours, please see our library pages.

Easter and spring craft activities for children

A range of craft activities will be taking place at our libraries over the Easter holidays. All events are free with no booking required unless specified.

A number of spring craft sessions will also take place at several libraries throughout April.

For full details, visit our library events webpage.

Easter fun at Braywick Nature Reserve

Come and discover the wonders of Braywick Nature Reserve in Maidenhead this Easter holiday.

• Pond dipping - Tuesday 2 April from 10am to 11.30am, and from 2pm to 3.30pm. Also running on Wednesday 3 April at the same times.
• Forest fun - Thursday 4 April from 10am to midday, and from 2pm to 4pm. Enjoy den building, a cosy campfire, and marshmallows in the heart of the reserve.

No experience needed, dress for the outdoors and all children must be accompanied by an adult for the events. No dogs allowed except assistance dogs. Pushchairs are welcome and the pond is wheelchair accessible. There are steps in the forest fun activity, so it is not wheelchair/pushchair accessible.

Tickets are £8 per child (accompanying adults do not need tickets). Visit the website.

Join the Windsor Easter egg trail

Starting tomorrow (Good Friday), and throughout April, a free Easter egg trail is running in Windsor town centre, and everyone is welcome to join in. 

The trail is being run by VisitWindsor, MyRoyalBorough, Windsor & Eton Town Partnership and kindly sponsored by South Western Railway (SWR). The LEGOLAND Windsor Resort has kindly offered a fabulous prize of family entry tickets, and Dr Choc’s Windsor Chocolate Factory on Thames Street is generously donating chocolate treats to all families completing the trail.

For visitors to Windsor arriving by rail, the hunt starts the minute you step off the train at Windsor & Eton Riverside station. For local residents, you can start at any point – there are ‘eggs’ to find in windows at different businesses in the town centre.  

Download the free app by scanning the QR code above and find all the hidden ‘eggs’ displayed at nine locations around Windsor. Send us your pictures of yourself and your family enjoying the trail - email business@rbwm.gov.uk - and you may be featured on our MyRoyalBorough Instagram and Facebook pages. For more information, visit the website.

Make the most of our weekend parking offer

If you’re planning an Easter holiday city break to London, did you know our Vicus Way car park in Maidenhead has a super-affordable parking offer for weekend leisure trips?

If you arrive after 4pm on Friday, you can park until 11am on Monday for just £10 – the smart choice whether you're heading to the capital or spending the weekend in our Royal Borough.

Catch the train at Maidenhead station (a convenient five-minute walk away), with regular services to Paddington and Windsor.

Vicus Way is a spacious, modern parking base outside ULEZ – vehicle entry 5am-8pm, exit 24/7. Discover more on our parking pages.

Reminder: Interested in standing for election?

The nomination period remains open until 4pm on Friday 5 April for prospective candidates in the Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) election taking place on 2 May.

PCCs are elected representatives who oversee how crime is tackled in a police force area and aim to ensure the policing needs of communities are met. They are elected for four years – this short video covers their role.

West Berkshire Council has overall responsibility for running this election across the Thames Valley policing area. Find out more on their website.

The list of candidates will be published on Monday 8 April, then electors will be able to read the PCC candidates’ manifestos from 10 April at www.choosemypcc.org.uk

If you’re already registered to vote, look out for your polling card arriving by post in the coming days. The last date for registering to vote for this election is Tuesday 16 April at 11.59pm. Find out more about registering, postal and proxy voting on our website.

Could you help with our School Street trial in St Adrians Close, Maidenhead?

Can you spare an hour in the morning or afternoon? We’re looking for volunteer stewards in Maidenhead - both parents and residents - for the School Street trial near Wessex Primary School, which is due to start on Monday 15 April.

School Streets are 45-minute vehicle restrictions at the start and end of the school day. They make the area safer for children to walk, cycle or scoot to school, as well as create a healthier environment for all. Plus residents and/or Blue Badge holders living within the restriction area, can still use their cars. 

We’re looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to manage the temporary barriers, direct people, and answer questions. Training will be given.

Take a look at this video about a School Street in Oxfordshire to see what it’s like to be a steward and how the scheme operates. You can also email our School Streets team to find out more.

Final reminder: Calling all businesses! Complete the digital infrastructure for business survey

There's still time for businesses to take part in the Digital Infrastructure Group’s digital infrastructure for business survey.

It's been designed with the goal of assessing the current state of digital infrastructure, identifying areas for improvement, and gauging the digital skills of employees within local businesses.

The survey is open until Sunday 31 March. Take part by visiting the website.

Royal Borough Community Spotlight

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

• River Church, Maidenhead invites you to a free event for primary school aged children (Friday 29 March, breakfast is served at 9am, with games starting at 9.30am. Finishes at 12.30pm, with lunch served until 1pm). There will be crafts, games, songs and the telling of the Easter Story. Registration required. For more information and to register, visit the website.

• Norden Farm Centre for the Arts presents Quest Family Fest (Friday 29 March to Saturday 13 April) - Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 4PF. Two weeks of creative adventures, bringing stories to life. For more information, visit the website or call 01628 788997.

• Easter Family Fun Day (Saturday 30 March, 11am to 3pm) - Grenfell Park. Join Maidenhead Bridge Rotary for a free Easter Family Fun Day. Prepare for an egg-citing adventure with an array of activities for the whole family. From egg hunts to face painting, fairground rides to delicious treats and lots of stalls, there's something for everyone. For full event details and to plan your day of fun, visit the website.

• Easter Sunday at St. Michael’s Church, Bray (Sunday 31 March, 10am). A service for all ages. Hymns, songs and stories. Holy Communion followed by an Easter egg hunt in the churchyard. For more information, visit the website. In the week after Easter Sunday the church will be open daily from 11am to 3pm. See the Easter flowers and light a candle in memory of a loved one.

• Celebrate Easter at King's Church International (Sunday 31 March at 9.15am) – Baylis Theatre, Braywick Leisure Centre. King's Church International welcomes you to an inspiring all age family Easter celebration, with an Easter egg hunt after the service. Free parking at the venue. Visit the KCI website to learn more.

• Pub & Pastries Seniors Social (Monday 1 April, Monday 6 May and Monday 3 June, 11am to 12.30pm) - The Fox & Castle Pub, Old Windsor. Relaxed, friendly, sociable gathering for our sensational seniors, their friends & family. Warm and welcoming to those experiencing dementia and other conditions, at any age, and any stage. Free entry. Small charge for hot drinks. For more information, email jo.halstead@homeinstead.co.uk or call 01784 335804.

• Paper flower making workshop (Tuesday 2 April, 2.30pm) - Gardeners Hall, St Leonard’s Road, Windsor. Royal Windsor Rose Show Floral Club are having a paper flower making workshop. Annual membership £40 or £7.50 per event (cash or cheque only). Never been before, try for free on your first visit - all welcome. Please bring scissors, pencil, ruler and a jam jar. Any queries contact 07786 703238.

• The Dash Charity quiz night (Thursday 25 April, 7pm to 10.30pm) - The Mill Ride Golf Club, Winkfield Row, Ascot. Join for a fun-filled evening of trivia and laughter as the charity co-hosts a quiz supper with the Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead branch of the Soroptimists. All ticket proceeds and money raised on the night will go to The Dash Charity. So why not grab a few friends or join a team and spend the evening supporting a local cause? The event costs £25 per person (includes supper). You can book your tickets here.

• Holyport Village Fair  (Saturday 1 June, from 12pm to 8pm) - Holyport Green. This will be the 79th year celebrating this wonderful traditional event. This will be a family fun-packed day for all including a funfair, live music and entertainment, food and drink, traditional games, dog show, stalls and more. Please follow and share the fair's Facebook page for all updates leading up to the event. Free entry and parking, all welcome. This is a charity event for Holyport Community Trust.

• Cox Green Luncheon Club. The club has vacancies and invites you to join for lunch on Tuesdays at Cox Green Community Centre. The club caters mainly for retired people who are housebound or lonely through age, disability, ill health or bereavement and live within the parishes of St. Edmund Campion RC Church, All Saints Church, Maidenhead and the Church of the Good Shepherd, Cox Green. The team of volunteers provide and serve a freshly cooked two-course meal, followed by tea or coffee, at a reasonable cost. You can be sure of a very warm welcome. For more information, contact Pam Hitchcock on 01628 825157.

• Swan Lifeline volunteer fundraising manager needed. Do you have a background in fundraising and a flair for persuasive writing? Are you passionate about wildlife and nature? Swan Lifeline is the oldest registered charity devoted entirely to the care of sick and injured swans in the Thames Valley. As fundraising manager, you will play a crucial role in securing funding to enable the charity to carry out its mission. You will gain valuable experience in the non-profit sector and contribute to the growth of a unique and valuable charity. If you’re interested, please click here.

• Volunteers needed – Commonwealth War Graves Foundation. The organisation is currently looking to recruit volunteers. It's based in Maidenhead, and it is a great opportunity for people interested in the local area to get involved. For more information visit the website.

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:

• Plans to open further facilities for pupils with special educational needs - closes Friday 26 April.
• Berkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy priorities for nature survey - closes Tuesday 7 May.

Partner consultation:



• Royal Berkshire Fire Authority is asking people to consider how its fire and rescue service responds to Automatic Fire Alarms - closes Monday 13 May.

Local Travel Updates

Rail - engineering works

Planned engineering works are taking place on the South Western Railway network this bank holiday weekend, Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April. The lines in the Staines area will be closed due to maintenance work. On all days London Waterloo to Windsor services will be diverted after Twickenham and will terminate at Hounslow. Buses will run between Hounslow and Windsor via Staines. More information on the SWR website.

Rail - industrial action

Industrial action announced by the ASLEF union will mean strike action affecting the SWR network on Monday 8 April and the GWR network on Saturday 6 April. Action short of a strike will take place from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 April to Tuesday 9 April. For updates, check the SWR website and GWR 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

Keep up to date with news and information from the council by signing up to Nextdoor and following us on X and Facebook.

Other accounts you may be interested in:

• Royal Borough official tourism web page.  
• Libraries on Facebook and X.
• Royal Borough Registrars on Facebook and Instagram.
• Communities Team on Facebook and X.
• Windsor & Royal Borough Museum web page.
• MyRoyalBorough on X, Facebook and Instagram.
• Make Maidenhead on Facebook and Instagram.