To receive an verbal report on parking at Maidenhead Train Station.

Ed Goose, Regional Growth Manager at Great Western Railway (GWR), gave a brief overview on the situation with parking at Maidenhead Train Station. A number of actions had taken place around the Station which had influenced how people access it, including the Forecourt Scheme led by RBWM and backed by GWR. He stated that he met up with Huw Jones, Traffic Safety Manager (RBWM), a couple of months ago to develop an action plan to mitigate the challenges with drop-offs and any other concerns. He mentioned that he was aware of concerns and challenges with the operation but hoped that the scheme would improve accessibility to the Station. He also added that as the drop-off was driven by RBWM as they led the scheme.

On parking, Ed Goose informed that Silco Drive had been reopened since around January and February 2023 for Station users. In addition, Shoppenhangers Road and the ground floor of Stafferton Way car parks was also being utilised.

Councillor Baskerville asked about a drop off point, namely what happened to the original idea of it. Ed Goose replied that this was being considered, and he welcomed feedback and the desire for a drop off point to be reinstated. He mentioned that he was going to meet with the Station Team to assess the possibility of a drop-off in a few weeks’ time.

Councillor Reynolds commented that it was potentially a dangerous situation for residents to access the drop off points at the Station forecourts as the amount of parking could build back to the dual carriageway road and thus potentially causing residents to enter and exit their cars near the main road. He suggested that there could be some additional drop-off points near the Station. Ed Goose welcomed the feedback, adding that additional drop-off facilities were something worth considering and reiterating that this would be investigated by the Station Team. He also offered to return to the Forum at some point in the future.

Councillor Taylor, Vice-Chair, conveyed to Ed Goose that the current arrangement with drop-off parking was chaotic, with traffic building up on the A308, parking in residential areas and conflicts between taxi drivers. She also highlighted concerns of accessibility for disabled people with parking as well as potential for injury and accidents. She requested for the arrangement with drop-off parking to be re-investigated. Welcoming the feedback, Ed Goose responded that GWR and Network Rail were considering potential solutions to this. He also welcomed collaboration with RBWM.

Councillor Reynolds suggested that a report on the Station Team’s assessment could be forwarded to the Forum, and that RBWM should get involved in the engagement exercise by linking with the relevant individuals within the Council. Ed Goose replied that he would be keen to work with whomever to find the right solution to make station access safe and accessible.

ACTION: Ed Goose to report back on the Maidenhead Station Team’s assessment.

Councillor K. Singh raised some comments. Firstly, he stated that severely disabled residents were unable to walk from the disabled parking park to the station ticket office. He requested for extensive accessible parking for disabled residents to be reintroduced close to the station. Secondly, he conveyed that there needed to be more parking for commuters. Thirdly, he also suggested that there should be a cycle rack at the Station.

Ed Goose responded that there was a plan in place to ensure there was adequate accessible parking at the Station, but he stated that he would check with the responsible officer regarding the status of this plan. With general parking, Ed Goose believed that there was ample parking with the reopening of Silco Drive. On cycle parking, as part of the Forecourts Scheme, he stated that there was significant enhancement to cycle parking at the end of the Forecourts. In addition, one of the aims of the Scheme was to consolidate the cycle parking into a single ‘easy-to-use’ bay. He welcomed any feedback on cycle parking.

Councillor Taylor raised that there had been a high level of bike thefts from the Station bike racks. She wondered whether the bike racks could be moved closer to the station and the space where the bike racks were currently located could be used for disabled parking bays. Ed Goose replied that he could look into this, but this would require some consultation and collaboration with RBWM officers as cycle parking was outside of GMR’s remit.

Councillor K. Singh asked whether the Forecourts Scheme was legally compliant with disability access, and if not when it would be. He believed that it was not legally compliant as the disabled bays were too far away from the ticketing offices, asserting that it needed to be fixed by having the disabled bays closer the ticketing office. Ed Goose stated that he would investigate with relevant colleagues on whether the disability access was compliant. He also reiterated that the intention of the Forecourts Scheme was to improve parking at the Station.

The Chair asked for a brief update on the lifts at the Station. Ed Goose informed that Network Rail were conducting a scheme to improve safety and accessibility at the Station platform. Aware of the challenges around the lifts as well as them being out-of-order on a number of occasions, he added that the lifts were being looked into. In spite of financial difficulties, he stated that Network Rail and GWR were seeking to push this forward.

The Chair asked Laurence Ellis, Democratic Services Officer, asked whether a report could be sent to Cabinet to hand over the assets of the Forecourts Scheme so Network Rail and GWR could work in conjunction with it. Laurence Ellis replied that he would investigate this.

ACTION: A report to be sent to Cabinet to hand over the assets of the Forecourts Scheme.