Maidenhead & Windsor

A Maidenhead town centre garden is to get a facelift early in the New Year as part of the town's spruce-up programme.

The Maudsley Memorial Garden outside the library in St Ives Road will have:

# new paving slabs to replace the cracked and broken pedestrian 'square' and the paths to the bridge and across the York Stream

# a clean-up of the grass area towards the stream

# a better environment for the garden's trees, with increased pits to allow roots to spread without lifting and cracking the paving slabs.

Cllr Richard Fagence, lead member for Maidenhead leisure and cultural services, said the Maudsley garden scheme was the latest in the council's plan to improve parks, gardens and open spaces across the borough.

He added: "We have been able to carry out the vast majority of the work with the help of Section 106 contributions from developers for the benefit of the community, and the Maudsley Memorial Garden is no exception. The improvements will not only make a more attractive access to the York Stream and Maidenhead Library but also give local residents and visitors a pleasant place in the heart of the town centre to relax and enjoy in fine weather."

Opened in July 1975 in memory of Alderman John Barker Maudsley, a member of Maidenhead Borough Council from 1936 until his death in 1969, in recognition of his outstanding service to the town. The garden and adjacent library were grade II listed in 2003.

The council has been given listed building consent to carry out the garden improvements, which will start in late February and take about four weeks. To carry out the works in safety the public footpath will need to be closed and temporary closure notices will be posted soon as part of the formal closure process. Maidenhead Library will remain open as usual throughout the works.

The Maudsley Garden improvement plan does not include the library entrance area. The council will be looking to upgrade this area at a later stage, subject to listed building consent from English Heritage.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead