To receive a presentation on the above titled item.

Gordon Oliver, Principal Transport Planner gave a presentation on the above titled item. Members of the Forum were told that £3.75 million had been committed to the Maidenhead Station scheme, which was needed to cope with increased rail passengers due to electrification, introduction of the Elizabeth Line and the Western Rail Link to Heathrow. Key elements included, improved access to the forecourt, interchange facilities and environmental enhancements. It was outlined that there would be improved pedestrian and cycle links between the station and town centre along with traffic management changes at A308/Broadway and A308/Queen Street. Members were told that long-stay parking displaced from the station forecourt would be reprovided in Stafferton Way. Benefits to cyclists included 300 cycle parking spaces with CCTV, improved crossing and link to King Street, and a safer cycling route across the station accesses. The Forum was informed that construction would be complete by April 2020. Members were shown illustrations of the proposed forecourt and a map which outlined where the changes would take place.

Members were told that £2.8 million had been committed to the Maidenhead Missing Links scheme to improve cycle links from North Maidenhead to the town centre and to future regeneration sites. Key elements of the scheme included; improved routes across Town Moor; a replacement bridge across Strand Water; a new route through the St Cloud Way development; toucan crossing over Cookham Road; improved route through Kidwells Park; new subway under A4 Bad Godesberg Way; and enhancements on King Street, where the scheme will link to Maidenhead Station and NCN4. Benefits to cyclists included improved connections to the town centre; a safe, largely traffic-free route that avoids busy roundabout junctions; and reduced severance from the A4. Members were told that construction would be completed by April 2021.

As part of the Maidenhead Town Centre Regeneration, £5.3 million had been given to the Maidenhead Housing Sites Enabling Works which would be focussed on junction improvements to tackle congestion hot spots and support planned development/regeneration in Maidenhead. Key elements included: Braywick Roundabout (A308(M)/A308/A330); Stafferton Way roundabout (A308/Stafferton Way); Castle Hill roundabout (A4/A308); Cookham Road roundabout (A4/B4447); Oldfield Road roundabout (A4/B3028); Ray Mead Round roundabout (A4/A4094).

Members were told that there had been drop-in sessions held on the 1^st and 2^nd of March and that further sessions had been planned for the 13^th and 14^th of September 2019. There would also be meetings with affected residents and that there would be a regular newsletter along with social media updates. Members were told that all future delivery reports would be heard at the Infrastructure Overview & Scrutiny Panel.

Members of the Forum discussed a range of issues which included:

·         Whether there would be any additional spaces for cyclists at Maidenhead Station if the demand exceeded 300 spaces; it was confirmed that the increased forecourt would have enough space should more spaces be needed.

·         That a safer cycle route into the town centre from the station was welcomed and that the removal of the cycle lane along Broadway was disappointing. It was discussed whether alternatives to the missing links subway had been explored, e.g. Dutch style roundabouts with segregated peripheral cycle routes where cyclists had priority over traffic. However, it was noted that these would not work for roundabouts with multi-lane entries / exits and would prove to be more dangerous if adopted.

·         Forum Members discussed that the increase of capacity would also naturally increase speed of motorists and that more should be done to negate this in areas such as Cookham, where new developments would be constructed.

·         Members also discussed the need for visibility on roundabouts and that though foliage and shrubbery looks nice, it proved to be a hazard for those cyclists as their view was obscured. It was recommended that the height of installations and greenery on roundabouts be limited.

·         A member of the Forum noted that currently motor vehicles were allowed access to Maidenhead High street at particular times but that cyclists were not allowed to cycle through. There are few alternative routes through the town centre and it was suggested that a contra-flow cycle route should be provided on Queen Street.