Written Update provided by Tim Golabek, Service Lead Transport and Infrastructure. Helen Preedy to update Forum.

Lisa Hughes read out the written update provided by Sharon Bunce. It read as follows:

Castle Hill precinct pedestrianisation project, Windsor

Forum members provided input to the project team on paving materials, space, kerb upstands and seating for this pedestrianisation project in October 2020.  Tim Golabek, Service Lead for Transport and Infrastructure, advised that the project was at the tender stage and was due to be started in the new year.

Furze Platt

At a site visit in May 2021 with Cllrs Clark and Del Campo, two highways engineers, Lisa Hughes and Sharon Bunce, obstructed and damaged pavements and the lack of dropped kerbs / safe crossing places across Cookham Road / Gardner Road, Switchback Road South and Furze Platt Road, were highlighted. These were heavily used pavements for children going to Furze Platt senior school and St Mary’s Primary school as well as residents using the Chemist, Post Office and shops at Shifford Crescent.

Tim Golabek had initially advised that the information gathered at the site visit hadn't been taken back to highways. However, an email trail sent to Lisa Hughes today showed that the drawings and costings had been done for four locations identified during the site visit. It had been suggested that one element, dropped kerbs across Gardner Road, could be actioned relatively soon. 

The other works were on hold until a decision was made on funding as we had been advised there would not be sufficient funding to complete all areas identified. Cllr Del Campo from Furze Platt ward had asked for clarification around existing funding for essential works. We hoped these works could be expedited to improve pedestrian safety.

Queen Street / Broadway

Site visit was held on 19 Aug 21 with Cllr Stimson, Cllr Singh, Tim Golabek, Lisa Hughes and Sharon Bunce to look at several major hazards for pedestrians crossing the roads in this location.  The temporary car park had now closed but the various arms of this junction still posed hazards for all pedestrians, particularly those with visual and mobility impairments. 

Tim Golabek advised that the matters discussed at the meeting were actioned for remedial work by Neighbourhood Services some time ago and we awaited an update on the timeframe for completion.

Installation of A frame barriers around North Town Moor and Summerleaze Road / Blackamoor Lane junction

An A-Frame had been installed at this location to prevent motorbikes and other vehicles from accessing the footpaths on North Town Moor.  However, the narrowness as these frames tapered upwards, impacted the accessibility of these paths for taller wheelchair users with broader shoulders, mobility scooters, power chairs, some pushchairs and bicycles who may not be able to pass through the barrier.  Other local authorities and campaigning groups had made it clear that A-frames should not be used on paths as they prevent legitimate users (including people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act) from accessing the path.

This matter had been referred to Jacqui Wheeler, Parks and Countryside Access Officer, who was in the process of contacting the landowner, Summerleaze, to raise these issues.

Jacqui Wheeler was also investigating problems raised regarding barriers on the permissive routes at Bray Lake which had also been identified as causing access restrictions.

An update would be provided on these items at the next meeting.

Active Travel Big Conversation consultation

Forum members contributed to this consultation and we await feedback on this from rbwm.

https://rbwmtogether.rbwm.gov.uk/hub-page/travelforwards

Future Projects

Another potentially hazardous pavement had been flagged up at the junction of St Ives Road and York Road by the Waterside flats in which the gradient and angle of the pavement had been identified as being unsafe for residents with visual and mobility impairments.  Sharon Bunce would look at this over the coming week and raise any safety and access issues with Tim Golabek.

AfterSportsable wheelchair basketball update

Just a quick progress report in relation to the Maidenhead Basketball team, The Rockets. Following our last forum meeting, Cllr Stimson and McWilliams put the Rockets Coach, Keith Pamment, in touch with Leisure Focus at Braywick Leisure Centre and Maria Evans, a consultant from Our Community Enterprise who are providing ongoing guidance and support with storage, funding and membership needs as well as future partnership opportunities for promoting wheelchair basketball training for adults and children in the area.  This was proving to be a very positive and productive collaboration in taking AfterSportsable sports into the mainstream.

There were challenges and storage of sports wheelchairs is the most pressing issue currently since losing storage at Sportsable.  Although in theory it had been agreed that the installation of a storage container on the grounds of Braywick Leisure Centre would be the best solution, this would require a full rbwm planning permission process to be undertaken.  Advice and guidance would need to be sought from lead councillors and officers regarding this process including what support might be available with paying the planning fees involved.

In the meantime, Leisure Focus had provided some temporary storage for the sports chairs.

Dominic Manley informed the Forum that he, had entered some information and sent in a submission and asked what happened next. Neil Walter, Parking Prinicipal, commented that if the ‘report it’ form had been used then the submission would go through to the service area and then they would respond directly.

ACTION: Keep on Agenda for next meeting

Follow up on Queen St/Broadway work with Neighbourhood Services