To receive an update from Barbara Richardson (RBWM).

Barbara Richardson provided the Forum with an update on regeneration around Maidenhead. Parking would have increased in provision across the borough after the regeneration and there would be a significant amount of change to parking in the town centre. Current plans were for a ‘one stage construction’, this would mean knocking down the existing car park before the new car park was in operation. There would be a report going to Cabinet for consideration in February.

The construction work on York Road was progressing well, with the construction of the building currently at 5^th floor level. The project was on target and phase 2 was due to start by the end of 2020. Phase 3 would involve the heritage centre relocation and was not due to commence until 2023.

The St Clouds Way project would be constructed in two large phases. The car park to the rear of the site would remain until at least 2023. The site on Ray Mill Road East, known as St Edmunds House, was submitted for planning in April, but was still waiting to go to committee for consideration.

Nicholson’s Shopping Centre redevelopment proposals were also progressing, with Areli holding public consultations. There were plans to have around 250,000 square feet of office space, up to 100,000 square feet of retail and over 600 residential units as part of the plans.

A resident asked about disabled parking in the Broadway car park and whether this would be maintained in the new car park. Barbara Richardson said that shop mobility spaces would be relocated to West Street during the construction period and then a new provision would be available in the new car park.

Councillor Baskerville asked about parking and whether the number of spaces in the town centre had reached its lowest point. Barbara Richardson explained that the number of spaces had never become negative and that there were currently around 3,400 spaces available, with around 700 new additional spaces to come as part of the regeneration programme.

Rebecca Taylor, from JTP, explained the Vision and Charter that JTP had been creating. They recently held a Community Planning Day which was attended by over 300 people. There were a number of key issues raised at the consultation, particularly that the town centre was ‘unattractive’. To tackle this, new cycle routes, green links and river walkways had been included in the plans. Young people were an important focus for JTP, especially giving them a good range of services that would make them want to stay in Maidenhead. Six key assets had been identified, for example being a town with neighbours, but also six challenges, for example number of cars and air quality.

The vision statement was designed to try and capture the essence of the work with the main message to try and reconnect the town with its centre. It was also important that this was done in a sustainable way and that there was an opportunity to restore civic pride in Maidenhead.

Matthew Shaw, Chairman of the Maidenhead Neighbourhood Forum, asked if there was any way of breaking down the data from the consultation, to see which groups of people engaged the most. Rebecca Taylor confirmed that this data was available and would form part of the appendices. A further question asked whether there would be any further public consultations. He was told that there were no further consultations planned and that a report would be going to Cabinet at the end of April.