To receive an update from the Maidenhead Town Manager.

The forum considered a written report by Robyn Bunyan, Maidenhead Town Manager.

Robyn Bunyan said that the good news was continuing in Maidenhead. ‘A Hoppy Place’ had recently opened next to the town hall, which gave a breath of fresh air into that area of the town. Wenzels had also now opened, along with Grilled Grub and Storia which had opened on the old Broadwick site. Robyn Bunyan said that a nice atmosphere had developed within the high street and that company employees had been seen more regularly attending sites within the town centre to purchase goods.

Robyn Bunyan said that the busiest day in May 2022 was Saturday 14 May with 26,335 visitors coming to the town centre. Visitor numbers on weekends were seen to be increasing and numbers were now back at pre-pandemic levels. Weekdays were also increasing. She acknowledged that there was more work to do, however the town centre was now a nice place to visit. Numerous other businesses were also coming to the town centre in the coming months. Premises licenses had also been applied for recently, suggesting further businesses coming to the town.

Robyn Bunyan said that in May 2022, social media engagement was very high. Events such as the craft market and the Jubilee shop window competition saw large amounts of engagement. The weekly produce market was being seen to also grow.

Robyn Bunyan said that June 2022 highlights included the Jubilee Craft in the Nicholsons centre, the farmers market, the world refill day, Father’s Day craft and make music day to name a few from the report. The baton relay had also taken place, which saw people attend and celebrate the event, which was well received within the community. There was also a lot of up-and-coming events that were coming to the town centre over the coming months.

Councillor Taylor thanked Robyn Bunyan for the achievements that she spoke of and asked if an increase in footfall in the town centre had been down to these events.

Robyn Bunyan replied by saying that more work had to be done to pinpoint footfall. She said that Thursday was a good day to use as a marker for footfall and it had been seen to increase on that day.

Councillor Bhangra asked how businesses and persons of interest were aware of Maidenhead and what things were out there to attract them to Maidenhead over other locations.

Robyn Bunyan admitted that more needed to be done, but things were happening. The Make Maidenhead social media platform was growing and was well engaged with. The My Royal Borough platform also existed, but more work needed to be done to shout about the good news that was out there about Maidenhead.

Councillor McWilliams credited Robyn Bunyan’s enthusiasm and said that Maidenhead had improved so much in recent years.  He asked how important it was for Maidenhead to have a mixed demographic.

Robyn Bunyan said that it was vital and that there was a huge mixed demographic of people that visited the waterside area of Maidenhead. The plan moving froward was to look at the different people that existed within the town and how they could best be catered too.

Councillor Taylor said that it was important to keep areas on the periphery of the town centre looking vibrant and fresh, ready for when the regeneration of the Nicholsons centre occur, to not deter visitors from attending the town centre. She also asked what hashtags Councillors and others should use when visiting the town, to provide the best exposure for the town centre.

Robyn Bunyan replied by saying that Make Maidenhead was on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram via the @MakeMaidenhead account name. She implored for Councillors when visiting the town to tag the account and use the #MakeMaidenhead.

Councillor Hill admitted that the town had a very vibrant part to it near the waterside, whereas the other part was maybe not so vibrant. The challenge was to get this vibrancy to exist across the whole town centre, and not just one singular location.

Robyn Bunyan agreed with this and said that the high street currently was more of a passageway between the 2 vibrant sides of the town. The hard work needed to continue, and things needed to be in place ready for when the Nicholsons centre was demolished.

The Chairman thanked Robyn Bunyan for her report and her attendance. Robyn Bunyan then offered Councillors the chance to have a walk around the town with her at their leisure to see the new sites that the town had to offer.