Maidenhead & Windsor

Local girl Steph James is Maidenhead's new town manager, taking over the key role from Monday September 4.

Educated at Newlands School, Steph is already well-known in the community for her work with the council's anti-social behaviour team, taking a leading role in a number of projects aimed at combating anti-social behaviour, most recently at Pinkneys Green.

Cllr Simon Werner, partnership chairman, said he was delighted the partnership had agreed to appoint Steph to take over from Martin Fletcher, who left earlier in the summer.

He said: "Steph will bring an energy and drive to the role and, being from Maidenhead herself, she not only lives in the town centre and knows the town like the back of her hand but has a real enthusiasm for helping us make our good town great."

Jane Wright, partnership vice chairman and manager of the Maidenhead Nicholsons Shopping Centre, said: "I am delighted that Steph has agreed to take on the interim role of town manager. I have no doubt that the experience she brings with her from her work in community partnership roles will be an asset to Maidenhead Town Partnership."

After leaving school Steph went into the licensing trade, managing a town centre pub before joining the Royal Borough and working on initiatives such as the successful Bag a Tagger anti-graffiti campaign and the parish council Grand in the Hand scheme, which helps parishes tackle anti-social behaviour in their own areas.

Steph said that as a local girl born and bred, she is really looking forward to getting involved in the town.

She said "Maidenhead has a lot going for it and with new developments either under way or planned, we have exciting things ahead. However, we don't want to mark time and the town partnership has lots of ideas for me to take forward.

"This is a new departure in my career but I believe the work I've done so far will be of great benefit, particularly in encouraging businesses and the retail community to join together for the benefit of the town. I love being out and about and working with people so I think this new job will be a great opportunity to make a difference in Maidenhead."

In her spare time Steph is a keen runner and a member of Maidenhead Athletics Club – she is the current Berkshire under-35s champion (gaining most points over a numbers of races throughout the season). She is also enjoys cycling and swimming.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead