To receive an update from Neil Walter.

Neil Walter, Parking and Enforcement Manager, said that the parking strategy was adopted in November 2020. Since then, officer and Member groups had reviewed the strategy and separated it out into 26 individual work streams. The streams had been separated into short, medium and long term, with a number having now been completed. The review was being led by Andrew Durrant, Executive Director of Place, and he was updating Members on a regular basis on the progress of the strategy. In Maidenhead, temporary measures which had been brought in during the pandemic would be removed to allow more space in the town centre. Neil Walter showed a number of slides to the Forum, detailing the measures that would be reviewed on various streets of the town centre. The disabled bays had now been completed and were available in various locations. There were the same number of disabled bays now as there was previously. Officers were continuing to look at the town centre to see where additional parking could be provided. The landing parking site closed at the end of October/early November which had reduced the amount of parking available to residents. Some new temporary car parks had recently opened, while the Vicus Way car park would be ready by autumn 2022.

The Chairman asked how many places there were for street parking across Maidenhead.

Neil Walter said that there were around 20 spaces that were not currently able to be used, it was planned that these would be restored by Christmas.

Councillor Baldwin said that while the number of disabled bays was the same as previously, they were located further away from the town centre.

Neil Walter said that the areas that were now being redeveloped had been popular for both on and off street parking. Trying to put this parking back in after development had proved to be difficult, but officers wanted to retain as much parking as possible. The landings site had been a bonus as the developers were originally meant to take the land back at the end of 2020. Surface car parks remained the most popular amongst residents visiting the town centre.

Councillor Baldwin asked how much interaction the parking team had with the planning team, in particular whether there was liaison around the parking arrangements for planning applications.

Neil Walter said that the team did talk to the planning team about the regeneration of Maidenhead. The car was the main mode of transport in the town and it was important that this was maintained by ensuring that there was adequate parking. When developments were brought forward, the amount of parking provided did have an effect on the town centre.

Councillor Bowden joined the meeting.

Councillor G Jones said that he was the council representative on the Older People’s Advisory Forum. They had informed him that popping into the town centre was very difficult as there were not many parking spaces available. Councillor G Jones said that it felt like spaces had been pushed back and located further away from the centre. He had done some research and found that 82 streets had parking restrictions, while only 17 had free on street parking signs. Councillor G Jones commented on Marlow and said that the parking there worked really well, there was also no shortage of available space. There needed to be more on street parking provided for residents.

Neil Walter responded by explaining that the 17 signs that had been referenced provided space for at least 60 cars for on street, short term parking. It was difficult to maintain bays in good locations due to the redevelopment which had been happening around Maidenhead.

Councillor G Jones asked how many spaces there used to. He was informed that it was about the same number now as it had been previously.

Councillor G Jones said that it did not feel like the same number, he would investigate further after the active travel measures had been removed.

Neil Walter said he was happy to do a walk round with Councillor G Jones.

ACTION – Neil Walter to organise a walk round with Councillor G Jones once the active travel measures had been removed.

The Chairman commented that he parked in Grove Road and had no issue in finding a space.

Councillor Singh said that he was pleased with the bays which had been put in on Bridge Avenue, more on street parking was needed in Maidenhead. There were a lot of bays that were left empty overnight, Councillor Singh suggested that residents who lived in flats could use these bays overnight. Some parking meters from streets had been removed and Councillor Singh suggested that this was a missed opportunity to implement electric vehicle (EV) charging points. He asked how many EV charging points had been installed across the borough.

Neil Walter said that the parking meters in question had been removed from Windsor. EV charging points were part of an EV strategy which was currently being developed. Alma Road in Windsor was the only place in the borough that currently had EV charging points.

Councillor Singh suggested that a parking meter could be added to the Reform Road car park to allow residents to park there.

Neil Walter said that Clive House was used by the council and was therefore a staff car park. Reform Road car park was rented out to tenants who were based on that road. Multi-story cars parks in Maidenhead had plenty of availability, residents were encouraged to use them rather than sites that were due for redevelopment.

Councillor Singh asked if there was any development planned by the Lok’n Store and Lidl. Neil Walter was not aware of any plans.

Councillor Davey asked how many parking bays were available in Windsor.

Neil Walter said there were around 20 bays, which were time limited.

Councillor Taylor asked if the Vicus Way car park could be used in the evenings for local residents, this could also happen in other areas to alleviate any problems with parking.

Neil Walter confirmed that a planning condition on the car park was that it was closed overnight, therefore this would not be possible.

Councillor Baldwin commented on the car park and said the opening times were strange, he felt it was a flawed plan.

Councillor Taylor asked if this was something that could be looked at for future developments.

Neil Walter said that he was happy to look at this, Stafferton Way was one example that could be investigated.

Councillor Taylor thanked Neil Walter and Councillor Johnson for helping to sort out noise issues at the Stafferton Way car park.