To receive an update from Paul Roach, Windsor and Eton Town Centre Manager, on future events in Windsor.

Paul Roach, Windsor and Eton Town Centre Manager, gave a brief overview of the upcoming events and activities in Windsor:

·       21^st July to 4^th September 2023 – Summer Beach at Windsor Yards.

·       5^th August 2023 – Farmers Market in Windsor.

·       10^th August 2023 – Farmers Market in Ascot.

·       20^th-21^st August 2023 – Independent Market in Windsor.

·       22^nd-23^rd August 2023 – Garden Market in Windsor.

·       26^th August 2023 – Vegan Market in Windsor.

·       2^nd September 2023 – Farmers Market in Windsor.

·       9^th and 10^th September 2023 – Community Craft Market at Windsor Yards.

·       16th September 1st October – Windsor Festival.

·       17^th September 2023 – Battle of Britain Civic Service and Parade.

·       17^th September 2023 – Farmers Market in Ascot.

·       8^th October 2023 – Community Craft Market at Windsor Yards.

·       28^th October 2023 – Pumpkin Party at Windsor Royal Station Shopping Centre.

·       11^th November 2023 – 2 Minute Silence

·       12^th November 2023 – Remembrance Sunday Civic Service and Parade.

·       12^th November 2023 – Community Craft Market at Windsor Wards.

·       14^th November 2023 – 21 Gun Salute (King Charles III’s Birthday) at the Long Walk.

·       16^th November 2023 – Eton Christmas Lights Switch On.

·       17^th November 2023 – Windsor on Ice.

·       18^th November 2023 – Windsor Christmas Lights Switch On.

·       26^th November 2023 – Dedworth Christmas Lights Switch On.

·       1^st-24^th December 2023 – Living Advent Calendar.

·       2^nd December 2023 – Farmers Market in Windsor.

·       2^nd-3^rd December 2023 – Windsor Yards Festive Weekend.

·       8^th December 2023 – Carols on the Hill.

Paul Roach added that there would be festive events on a number of weekends at Windsor Royal Station shopping area.

On the Living Advent Calendar event, Councillor Tisi asked if there was any scope for other businesses or organisation to acquire a date. Paul Roach replied that the conventional approach was sending an invite out to all of the businesses which took in the Living Advent Calendar event in the previous year while also encourage new venues to take part. He would welcome any new venues.

Councillor Knowles commented that there were not many empty building units on Peascod Street at the moment or were not planned to be filled. Paul Roach responded that it was forecasted for most of the empty units to come online and a significant proportion already had. He added that there were certain units which made him concerned, such as the Coral and Halifax units, because they had been empty for a long time. However, in the grand scheme, it was not too bad in terms of the vacancy and occupancy of Peascod Street, but it could be improved upon. From this, Paul Roach stated that his focus was to investigate why some of the long-term empty units were not being occupied. He mentioned that it was sometimes difficult to communicate with the owners on their long-term strategy as some of the occupants were individuals but insurance companies.

Councillor Knowles then asked whether the Harte and Garter Hotel and Spa was being put on sale or being leased. Paul Roach replied that it was up for sale entirely. Having discussed with the original owners, the Crown Estate, he informed that they were seeking to sell the whole lease, which included the Harte and Garter Hotel and Spa, The Ivy Royal Windsor Brasserie and Wagamama. Therefore, the buyer would be the landlord for all of these properties. The next step was finding the right hotel operator who could operate this lease.

Councillor Da Costa asked a couple of questions. Firstly, he asked whether the scope of the upcoming events applied only to the Windsor Town Centre or did it (or could it) include the whole of Windsor. Secondly, he asked how companies, groups and organisations would notify Town Centre Management of their activities so that it would be listed on the windsor.gov.uk webpage. For the first question, Paul Roach informed that Windsor.gov.uk was Borough-wide and therefore not Windsor-focused. Regarding the second question, he informed that individuals and organisations could register their event on the website, which would then go through a publishing process and then be listed on the website.

Anil Singh, a resident, stated that he was not aware of these upcoming events, and then asked if residents go to the website to find further information of the events or if there was another way. Paul Roach answered that the website was Visit Windsor (https://www.windsor.gov.uk/) in which the events were promoted.

Anil Singh then asked whether there should be more proactive means in publicising the events, such as newsletters. Paul Roach informed that it depended on the nature of the event, whereby it would be publicised in the Residents’ Newsletter if it was a Borough-led event or linked with the Borough. If there were third-party events, registering on the Visit Windsor website was the only way for their event to be publicised, though they may utilise on-site advertisement (though there were some restrictions on in the Town Centre), social media, newsletters and emails.

Councillor K. Davies congratulated Paul Roach for receiving his MBE honour and thanked him for his work in arranging events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in the Borough in September 2022. While appreciative, Paul Roach highlighted that it was not a one-man show and that he received help from many other people.