To receive an update to include:

Ø  An update on vacant shops and anticipated closures

Ø  Footfall in the Town Centre – have visitor numbers increased since the Royal Wedding.

Councillor Bowden stated he attended the Windsor, Ascot and Eton Town Partnership Board meeting and would update the Forum on all the figures presented at that meeting as the Town Manager was unable to attend the Windsor Town Forum himself.

Vacant Shops

Next had closed following a break in their lease; it appeared they were a victim of the Click and Collect retail trend where they were receiving more returns than making sales.

The former Fenwicks unit was still under talks and there was not a key anchor tenant for the site as yet. The remodelling of the sightline in that corner of Windsor Yards had been completed above Vision Express and Timberland but, there was no tenant coming forward at the present time. The shopping centre was working as hard as it could to attract new tenants.

There was no movement on the former Morrisons site in Peascod Street and there were four empty units at Windsor Royal Station. The vacancies were not only due to business rates, but due to the economy. Marks and Spencer had confirmed they were not closing. The Town was doing its best.

Footfall Figures

The footfall figures were extremely good at Windsor Royal and Peascod Street areas. They were good up to the first Royal Wedding in May 2018, they plateaued in the summer but they were dropping, even during the run up to the second Royal Wedding in October 2018. He added the Borough knew coaches arrived with tourists, they went and looked round the Castle, but they did not stay.

Events in Windsor

The Windsor Horse Show was due to take place in May 2019, and the organisers would continue to run Windsor Wednesday where people with Advantage Cards could gain entry for free on a first come, first served basis.

The Council had been approached by a US marching band that have expressed a wish to perform in Windsor, possibly at the Bandstand but, nothing had been confirmed yet.

The Council had not been informed of any State Visits taking place in 2019.

Buckingham Palace started its renovations soon, therefore HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip were to be at their Windsor Residence more. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were due to move into Frogmore Cottage.

The Castle Visitor Centre was undergoing renovations and they would continue until 2020.

The Household Cavalry were leaving Windsor in 2019 and only the horse training section would remain. The regiment are planning to exercise their right to be able to march through the town to celebrate their long history associated with the town and before the incoming Welsh Guards arrived.

Helen Price stated she had concerns regarding what was happening in Windsor. There was no strategy to keep Windsor vibrant while other high streets seem to be doing something. There was no advertising of the Living Advent Calendar. Councillor Bowden said he did not think Windsor was sinking. Commercial companies owned the units and they did not get a return, they left. When businesses left, the Council lost rateable income but, they were private corporations that ran those businesses. There was no need to regenerate an 800 year old Town, it was Maidenhead that needed regeneration.

Helen Price stated the visitors’ strategy had failed. Councillor Bowden responded the Council could not force businesses to stay. Coaches delivered visitors but they quickly took them away to the next destination. Councillor Da Costa asked when the Council would prepare a strategy to revitalise the Town. Councillor Bowden replied he could take a strategy to the two shopping centres in Windsor but, he got little response back from Peascod Street. The Council could not dictate to the units on Peascod Street because they were private businesses.

The Acting Managing Director stated the Council did a lot to support businesses such as Business Rate Relief and the Council worked with businesses in the Town but, the retail sector was changing. If House of Fraser on Oxford Street could not work, then it was a massive challenge to make anywhere work. The Council were in the process of submitting a bid to the governments High Street Fund. GL Hearn had carried out some work on what the Council could do to try and keep visitors that came on coaches to stay in the Town longer.

A local resident stated shops on Peascod Street left their doors open and all their heat went out; it was pollution and also a waste of money and someone should say something to them about it. John Holland, another local resident stated Windsor was losing its charm; the new York House was an awful design, Thames Court was doing nothing to embellish the conservation area, it was destroying the Town. Councillor Quick stated it was a balancing act between maintaining the character and progressing the Town. People did not want the type of regeneration seen in Maidenhead. She added at the Windsor Development Management Panel, unless there were planning law reasons to refuse an application, the Panel could not refuse an application as it would be overturned at appeal which costs the Council thousands of pounds.

Helen Price stated Barnes had turned their high street around, as had other areas; the council should learn from those places.

Councillor Da Costa asked when the marching band would take place. Councillor Bowden responded discussions were in the early stages so no date had been set. Councillor Da Costa suggested combining the band with the NFL matches held in the UK.

Helen Price requested more regular meetings. The meeting had lasted three hours and if they were held more regularly, they would not last as long. Councillor Da Costa agreed. Councillor Bowden said he would take the comments away and discuss them.