To receive a verbal report on pavements and related maintenance and reporting issues by Dug Tremellen, Transport Policy Manager.

Dug Tremellen, Transport Policy Manager, thanked the Forum for being able to attend and gave a brief overview on what they were doing on pavements and roads but added that it would be a useful opportunity for the Forum to ask questions as well.

Dug Tremellen explained that the approach to road and pavement maintenance could be demystified into three main parts. Firstly, there was a planned maintenance program, which involved larger maintenance projects planned well in advance and budgeted for, with details published ahead of time. Secondly, there was a planned upgrade program, including projects such as local cycling and walking infrastructure upgrades, which were developed and implemented over time following consultation with stakeholders. Examples included completed projects on Stovall Road and ongoing works on King Street in Maidenhead. Finally, there were reactive fixes, where a small budget and resources were allocated to address spot fixes and individual reported issues as they arose.

The Chair asked if there were any plans to upgrade the yellow bricks on the High Street and Queen Street due to their undulating contours, which posed trip hazards, especially for individuals in wheelchairs?

Dug Tremellen said there had been a study conducted on improving most of the streets in Maidenhead town centre, including those with outdated paving such as Queen Street. While the Maidenhead paving master plan, which was approximately 10 years old, had been applied to some streets already, such as the main pedestrianised High Street and around the Waterside quarter, there were still others in need of attention. Initial design work had been done for Queen Street, with some early ideas outlined. However, due to limited budget availability, there were currently no plans to proceed with upgrades for Queen Street or other streets requiring attention. Nonetheless, it remained on the agenda for future consideration.

Dominic Manley said the condition of the pavements on both sides of the road on the High Street, particularly between Market Street and the library, was a concern due to the narrow, sloping, and uneven surfaces. This presented challenges for individuals parking in that area and trying to navigate to other parts of the town centre. He hoped that these issues were also part of the program for future improvements.

Dug Tremellen confirmed that stretch of the High Street, along with Queen Street, was part of the long-term improvement program, however funding was currently unavailable. Dug Tremellen also said it was evident that parking arrangements in the area also needed consideration and combining improvements to both the High Street and Queen Street could involve reallocating parking spaces to widen footways. This approach aimed to avoid displacing disabled parking spots and required careful coordination. Nonetheless, addressing these concerns was part of the overall program based on the study conducted.

Councillor Price said that in the case of residential streets, issues like paving sticking up were typically reported through the system. However, if action had not been taken despite a report being made many months previous, it suggested that the severity of the issue might not have been adequately assessed. Residents' concerns about such hazards were valid, especially considering the potential risk they posed. Councillor Price suggested that they may need to reevaluate the assessment process to ensure that reported issues were addressed promptly and appropriately.

Dug Tremellen said that for any location requiring attention, a site visit by one of the maintenance teams would be arranged. The assessment would be based on specific criteria, primarily focusing on safety concerns due to prioritisation of works. If there were further details about a specific location, the team was open to receiving them for further review by an engineer.

Councillor Price said the concerns were raised regarding the impact on elderly and disabled residents' quality of life due to safety hazards. Elderly residents expressed fears of falling, leading to isolation and physical inactivity, while disabled residents faced challenges navigating steep drop curbs and obstacles outdoors. Councillor Price suggested that exploring alternative funding sources, such as public health funds designated for accident prevention, could address these trip hazards, and improve accessibility for residents, thereby reducing isolation and promoting community engagement.

Dug Tremellen noted that street users often identify subtle yet impactful hazards that require attention and encouraged residents to report such concerns through various channels, including online forms, to ensure timely action. Regarding the integration of public health objectives into road maintenance, ongoing discussions were highlighted between the team and public health officials, aiming to align funding allocations with community health priorities. Dug Tremellen continued those investments in roads and transportation served not only functional purposes but also contributed to broader societal benefits, such as health, independence, and environmental sustainability, warranting clear communication of these multifaceted impacts in project proposals.

Lisa Hughes raised a question about the allocation of funding across motor vehicles, cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure, noting a perceived imbalance favouring motor vehicles and sought clarification on how priorities were set for maintenance, upgrades, and fixes across these modes, requesting insight into the funding distribution among them.

Dug Tremellen explained that whilst they didn't have specific funding figures available, funding allocation could be found in budget documents. Dug Tremellen emphasised the responsibility of the highway authority in maintaining roads and streets, which encompassed a substantial asset spanning approximately 600 miles. It was noted that due to the higher wear and tear on carriageways, a significant portion of maintenance funding naturally goes toward them. However, during upgrades, attention was given to the entire road width to address various needs efficiently. Planned upgrades currently prioritised initiatives outlined in three improvement plans: the local cycling and walking infrastructure plan, the bus service improvement plan, and the electric vehicle charge point implementation plan. Dug Tremellen finished by explaining that reactive fixes were addressed based on incoming priorities throughout the year.

Lisa Hughes wished to raise two specific concerns. Firstly, regarding pavement works near the railway bridge on the Maidenhead railway line, completed without a dropped curb despite tactile paving present on the other side, highlighting confusion over such oversight. Secondly, Lisa Hughes reiterated a long-standing issue in the Furze Platt Ward, spanning a stretch of 3/4 of a mile from Cookham Road to Maidenhead Road, where there were no safe crossings for residents from the Spencer Farm estate to access essential services like the chemist, post office, and grocery store, despite previous site visits and discussions with local authorities. Dug Tremellen said he was happy to have a conversation outside the meeting regarding these issues.

Sharon Carrigan mentioned their involvement in the Learning Disability Partnership Board and the Speaking Out group, which conducted a survey on pavement conditions. They expressed uncertainty about whether the Disability and Inclusion Forum was aware of this initiative and whether the presentation created from the survey had been shared or acted upon. Sharon Carrigan highlighted the importance of addressing lived experiences of individuals facing obstacles in navigating from point A to B due to issues like tree roots or uneven pavements and offered to follow up by providing the presentation if necessary. The Chair suggested this be shared with Dug Tremellen.

The Chair noted the absence of a timeframe for maintenance or upgrades, specifically around the High Street and Queen Street and requested clarification on the timeline for their upgrade.

Dug Tremellen clarified that the lack of a timeframe for maintenance or upgrades, such as those for the High Street and Queen Street, was primarily due to funding constraints. Dug Tremellen explained that historically, transportation funding often originated from central government through bidding opportunities. The approach involved preparing projects for bidding, but opportunities for funding bids were currently limited.