To receive an update from Paul Roach, Windsor and Eton Town Centre Manager.

Paul Roach, Windsor and Eton Town Centre Manager, presented his Town Manager update. With the average footfall count, the figures for 2022-23 were slightly above the figures for 2018-19 (pre-Covid). Paul Roach highlighted these were general average figures of the movement of people through Peascod Street rather than actual figures, showcasing a general trend. Illustrated by the graph in the presentation, there was usually a peak in footfall at around July and August, followed by a decline as summer holidays end and school reopen. The footfall in September 2023 was higher compared to September 2019.

 

Paul Roach then gave the headline data up to the week commencing 29^th October 2023:

·       Total number of visitors to Windsor Town Centre External for the last 52 weeks was 7.4 million (3.5% increase compared to 2022).

·       The total number of visitors in 2023 so far was 6.1 million (3.9% increase compared to 2022).

·       Total number of visitors to Windsor Town Centre External in the week commencing 23^rd October 2023 was 139,000.

·       The busiest day in the week commencing 23^rd October was Saturday 28^th October 2023 with 22,293 visitors.

·       The peak hour of the week was 15:00 on Sunday 29^th October 2023 with footfall being 3,270.

 

Car parking in September 2023 had decreased by 18% (in contrast to the error of 40% in the presentation) with the total number of users being around 77,283 users. It was usually expected for car parking usage to decrease at around September of each year. Meanwhile, coach parking had increased of 120% (1,311 users), an increase in comparison to 2022 (595 users).

 

In terms of Vacancy Rates, the national average had increased by 13.9%, compared to 13.8% in the last Forum meeting in September 2023. In spite of this, the vacancy rate in Windsor was static at 9.4% with a lack of movement compared to the last Forum meeting. In terms of movement:

·       The recently vacated units in the last month included Neal’s Yard Remedies and FG Pymm and Son Funeral Director. Paul Roach was uncertain of the context for the sudden closure of the Neal’s Yard Remedies unit in Windsor, as they were still operating in other towns and cities, whether it was only restricted to their Windsor branch or a wider consolidation.

·       The recently opened stores included Card Factory and French Kiss (formerly Madame POSH) in Peascod Street. Coffee Gallery was about to open in the former Coral unit.

·       The units which were offered or under development were Halifax, Newlook (Mango), Patisserie Valarie, Coral, and Cath Kidston.

 

Paul Roach then explained the Christmas programme within the Borough. The Christmas campaign was launched on 1^st November 2023 with the use of the hashtag #MyFestiveRoyalBorough being encouraged by RBWM’s partners, providing a central base for people to reflect, add or support some of the Borough’s work. The hashtag was usable across multiple social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram.

 

Similar to last year, an electronic copy of the Christmas brochure (designed by a business partner) was available alongside hard copies being distributed at the Visitor Information Centre, most of the libraries and all public buildings. There was encouragement for residents to use the digital copy of the brochure. The brochure contained many activities which were scheduled to take place across not only Windsor but across the whole of the Borough.

 

The activities scheduled to take place outside of Windsor included:

·       25^th November 2023, Peascod Street: Windsor Christmas Vegan Fiesta.

·       26^th November 2023 (10:30am), Pinder Hall, Cookham: Cookham Christmas Market.

·       26^th November 2023 (1:00pm), Clewer Memorial Recreation Ground: Clewer and Dedworth Christmas Fair

·       3^rd December 2023, Roux at Skindles Brasserie:  Roux at Skindles Brasserie Christmas Market

·       8^th December 2023, Cookham Dean Village Hall: Cookham Dean Meter Market – Christmas Special

 

The events scheduled to take place in Windsor itself were:

·       16^th November 2023 (5:00pm), Eton High Street: Eton Christmas Lights Switch-on

·       18^th November 2023 (1:00pm), Castle Hill, Windsor: Windsor Christmas Lights Switch-on

·       19^th November 2023 (12:00pm), Sunninghill High Street: Sunninghill Street Fayre

·       25^th November 2023 (11:00am), Maidenhead Town Centre: Maidenehad Christmas Lights Switch-on and Christmas Market

 

Paul Roach highlighted to residents that they could go to the Visit Windsor website and download the programme.

 

Other big events included:

·       11^th November to 24^th December 2023, Whitmoor Forest, Ascot: LaplandUK (sold out).

·       16^th November 2023 to 2^nd January 2024, The Savill Garden, Windsor Great Park: Windsor Great Park Illuminated.

·       17^th November 2023 to 7^th January 2024, Alexandra Gardens, Windsor: Windsor on Ice.

·       18^th, 19^th, 25^th and 26^th November and 2^nd, 3^rd 16^th and 24^th December, Daniel Department Store, Windsor: Santa’s Grotto Experience.

·       10^th,17^th, 19^th and 24^th December 2023, St Mary’s Church, Maidenhead: Carol Services at St Mary’s Maidenhead.

·       10^th December 2023, The Old Court: The Nutcracker.

·       12^th December 2023, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts: The Albion Christmas Band.

·       13^th December 2023, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts: Maidenhead Concert Band.

·       13^th to 17^th December 2023, Holyport Memorial Hall, The Snow Queen, Maidenhead Drama Guild: The Snow Queen, Maidenhead Drama Guild.

 

There were opportunities for late-night shopping in the coming weeks. Paul Roach also highlighted that Christmas trees could be bought at the Crown Estate.

 

Paul Roach informed that printed copies of brochures could be requested from him. In addition, brochures would be distributed in public areas. He also informed that only 5,000 copies were printed to reduce the wastage of paper.

 

Referring to a question from a resident on an update in regard to Windsor Yards, Paul Roach informed that the Windsor Yards development, approved at the Planning Committee in April 2023, was a complex development as it was a mixed-use site, including elements of a hotel, a retail, leisure space, cinema and car park improvements. As a result, there were multiple landowners which were linked to the area or located near it. Because of this, the Planning and Legal Teams were going through a lengthy process in ensuring that the legal documents and the set conditions for development as it progressed were correct. While April 2023 was a while ago, Paul Roach conveyed that this was not uncommon for a development on this size. He did not possess a date for when the works would be completed; but reassured that the Planning and Legal Teams were working as quickly as they could, adding that there was a balancing process which acquired approval from developers and RBWM.

 

Paul Roach highlighted that Windsor Yards was a sensitive part of Windsor with some sensitive issues around some of the landowners and parts of the development. He also added that there was a large service road underneath which needed to be maintained and kept open as it was used by people who did not use Windsor Yards (i.e., properties on Peascod Street) alongside those who did.

 

(Councillor Buckley left the meeting at 8:24pm)

 

Donald, a resident, asked why information on train usage in Windsor and Eton Riverside and Windsor and Eton Central station was not published in contrast to information on cars and coaches. While having asked them for regular footfall data, Paul Roach replied that the train stations were only able to provide annual data at the moment due to the methodology in how they collected them which made it difficult for them to forward monthly updates.

 

Donald then asked if there was any intention to improve the street lighting on Thames Street and the High Street, particularly around The Ivy Windsor. Paul Roach answered that there was a general upgrade of street lighting taking place across the Borough, including Windsor. However, he was uncertain about the two lantern lights near The Ivy (as well as those near the Guildhall and Windsor Parish Church) as the whole lantern would need to be replaced. He stated that he would take this question away and investigate.

 

ACTION: Paul Roach to investigate information on any improvements to lantern lights in Windsor.

 

John Bowden, a resident and former RBWM Councillor, asked how coach park usage was measured, namely whether it was based on tickets being bought. Paul Roach confirmed that it was based on the number of tickets being bought, whether bought in advance or when the services were being used. He added that the Town Management Team could not monitor coaches which simply dropped off and drove away without parking, whether based on arrangements or to avoid the coach parking fee.

 

John Bowden then highlighted that some coaches avoid parking charges and there was no way to monitor this. He also highlighted the pollution being produced by the large diesel coaches within residential areas. He also raised that some coaches were not conforming to road regulations on not turning right into Arthur Road or coming in from Clarence Road and then cause traffic jams at those junctions. Paul Roach was aware of this issue, stating it was a “constant problem”. He stated that considerable work had taken place to direct and communicate with coach drivers to use the Alma Road direction into and out of the coach park. However, a few coaches sometimes took the roads which they were not supposed to drive on as a short cut to the M4 or to take a different direction. While reassuring that most coaches follow the road regulations, it was difficult to have an individual enforce the regulations every day.

 

When John Bowden suggested the use of barriers or ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), Paul Roach replied that the Transport Team were potentially trialling ANPR and that some work needed to be done before being implemented.

 

Councillor Price asked a series of questions:

·       Whether free parking was being offered on any nights to encourage Christmas shopping.

·       Whether there was any record of what people were spending, hearing that people were spending less than before due to the cost-of-living crisis.

·       What were the percentages of visitors who were from overseas.

·       Were visitors tending to stay overnight or were the majority of visitors daytime, stating that she heard that there was a strategy to encourage more people to stay overnight.

 

Paul Roach replied that there were no plans for free Christmas-period car parking outside of the current offer for Borough residents of free parking during the first hour, speculating that the Borough was not in a financial position to afford anything beyond this (though added that he would need to confirm this with the Parking Team). In regard to the number of visitors, overseas spending and overnight stay, he stated that he would need to refer to Julia White from the Visitor Marketing Team, on the details. In terms of spending, especially with retailers, there had been a mixed range depending on the sector, from coffee shop to jewellery retail, adding that retailers were sensitive about spending and how well they were doing. Paul Roach suspected that, while the situation was not terrible, some retailers were not getting as much as they expected and that they hoped to get more from visitors. He added that he had not received any negative feedback from retailers on not achieving their targets. On overnight stays, he stated that he would take this away and investigate the answer.

 

ACTION: Paul Roach to investigate information on visitor overseas spending and overnight stays.

 

Councillor A. Tisi asked whether a more sensitive footfall system was being used in the Town Centre, as he previously mentioned at the last Forum meeting, and whether this was presenting any extra useful data. Paul Roach confirmed that the new footfall system was being used. He suggested that he could present the new visitor insights at the next Forum meeting, stating that new system reported in the millions (in contrast to the previous hundreds of thousands). He explained that the new system effectively picked up almost everyone who came into the Town Centre in a much wider catchment, covering people who walked by the River Thames, by Windsor-Eton Bridge, in green spaces, Alexander Gardens and Bachelor’s Acre; adding that the footfall count in which he generally presented was on Peascod Street only. While there were football counters in the shopping centres, such as Windsor Yards and Windsor Royal Station, this new system would cover these areas as well the coach park. The new system provided more credible data as it captured everything.

 

Lautaro (from Busy Buttons) asked whether charities could advertise events and activities for locals as part of the Christmas programme, or whether this was purely commercial, or a fee had to be paid. Paul Roach replied that the programme was not purely commercial and that it included non-profit community activities, such as lights switch-on being arranged by local community associations and Eton Town Council. He informed that requests for the programme would be sent out in July to acquire information as soon as possible, particularly as the programme had grown larger. He also informed that most hotels had confirmed their Christmas activities at around April/May annually; and that the Town Management Team sought to receive programme information at around that time. While there was no restriction on who could be added to the programme and the Team sought to fit in everyone, Paul Roach informed that the brochure had a page limit (around 24 pages). He advised that interested parties needed to forward their information as early as possible in the year.

 

Lautaro followed up by asking where organisations could reach out to raise awareness of events. Paul Roach advised that the main place to go to would be the Visit Windsor website, whereby events and activities could be added and shared. He also pointed towards the #MyRoyalBorough, which was designed to support businesses by using social media to promote particular events.