Maidenhead & Windsor

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 7th January - 13th January 2007
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

7th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 3:00 pm
Starter for 10 (12A)
* 7:30 pm
Starter for 10 (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

8th January at Maidenhead

No events planned

9th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
The Departed (18)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

10th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
The Page Turner / La Tourneuse de Pages (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories
* 4:15 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Group A
* 5:30 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Group B
* 6:45 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Academy

11th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
The Page Turner / La Tourneuse de Pages (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories
* 5:00 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Group C
* 6:00 pm
Tabla Drumming
* 6:15 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Group F

12th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Mischief Night (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories
* 10:30 am
Fun at the Farm
* 7:15 pm
Life-drawing

13th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 3:00 pm
Little Children (15)
* 7:30 pm
Little Children (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 9:30 am
Kathak Dance
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

Police investigating an incident in Harrow Lane, Maidenhead, during the early hours of Christmas Day (25/12), are appealing for witnesses.

Shortly after 2.20am an altercation involving a number of men, all aged in their twenties, occurred in the street.

During the incident, one man was injured when he was hit by a blue Vauxhall Astra.

The Maidenhead victim sustained head injuries, a broken arm and shoulder, and was taken to Wexham Park Hospital. He is expected to be discharged shortly.

A Vauxhall Astra has since been recovered by police and will be forensically examined.

Det Con Paul Mills, investigating officer, said: “At this stage of the investigation it would appear the car was driven at the victim deliberately. We are currently pursuing several lines of inquiry to try and establish a motive.

“If you witnessed or have any information concerning either the altercation or the collision, I would urge you to come forward immediately.”

Det Con Mills can be contacted via the 24 hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505. Those who do not wish to speak to police or leave their name should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

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Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 31st December - 6th January 2007
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

31st December at Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

1st January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
New Year’s Day Concert

2nd January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:30 pm
The Queen (12A)
* 7:30 pm
The Queen (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

3rd January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:30 pm
The Queen (12A)
* 7:30 pm
The Queen (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

4th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Marie Antoinette (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

5th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Red Road (18)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

6th January at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 3:00 pm
Starter for 10 (12A)
* 7:30 pm
Starter for 10 (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

Police are appealing for witnesses to a stabbing in Maidenhead today (23/12).

Shortly before 5am a passer-by discovered a 20-year-old man with injuries to his abdomen in York Road.

DI Bernard McDaid, from Maidenhead CID, said: “The victim’s injuries are likely to have been caused by a knife or another bladed weapon.

“I appeal to anyone who was in the town centre shortly before 5am and witnessed a disagreement or an assault to contact me urgently.”

The victim is currently in Wexham Park Hospital in a stable condition.

Anyone with any information should contact DI Bernard McDaid via 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

The Maidenhead Royal Borough is reinforcing its tough stance against train operator First Great Western on behalf of frustrated local commuters in the wake of the company's new rail timetable which sees fewer fast trains from Maidenhead to London.

The Maidenhead council has this week sent a further letter to First Great Western's customer services director expressing its disappointment at the cuts in services to London – and its regret that comments made in February this year were not taken on board in the implementation of the new timetable.

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for Maidenhead transport said this week: "We have been writing to First Great Western and inviting them to come to meetings with us since the beginning of this year in a bid to try to safeguard the travelling conditions of so many of our local residents who use their services day in and day out, in particular those thousands of local people who commute to London every day.

"We will also be seeking meetings with Network Rail who are the real villains of this piece because they have made strategic decisions to give priority to destinations such as Reading and Oxford to the west of Maidenhead.

"We are doing all we can to promote the use of public transport, and are bitterly disappointed that our comments appear to have been disregarded over the last few months, in particular with reference to the removal of many of the regular fast trains from Maidenhead to Paddington.

"We are also dismayed to learn that the operator currently has no plans to improve the service until May 2008. These trains are vital to so many of our residents, and we will continue to fight to have them reinstated and to impress on the train operator and Network Rail the need to provide a much more acceptable quality of service."

The Maidenhead council's letter to First Great Western reiterates the comments it made following consultation in February and strongly opposes:

· any reduction in services to and from Maidenhead – pointing out that there are 16% more passengers using the station now than in 2002

· the withdrawal of all fast trains from the station

· any reduction of services to and from Slough (the second biggest

external employment destination for local residents) and in services between Windsor and Slough.

The letter also calls for better interchange links between the Marlow branch line and the mainline trains from Maidenhead station to avoid unacceptably long waiting times.

Maidenhead Cllr Wood added: "We are also extremely concerned at the potential impact of the new timetable on both traffic congestion and air quality if more people start driving to and from work instead of using the train."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Braywick Nature Centre,
Hibbert Road,
Maidenhead,
Berkshire,
SL6 1UU.
01628 777440

Winter Birds at Bray Gravel Pits
Sunday 21st January 10.00am start

Step into the New Year with Countryside Rangers and East Berkshire RSPB on a morning bird-watching walk, discovering the variety of birds making use of Bray Gravel Pits, Maidenhead. Bring binoculars with you if you have them; meet at the Bray Lake car park off Monkey island Lane, just before the Bray Watersports clubhouse, map reference SU 913786 (please note that there is limited parking space available at this car park). No dogs, please; walk route may be muddy if weather has been wet.
Cost: Donations welcomed

Big Garden Birdwatch
Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th January

The RSPB's 2007 Big Garden Birdwatch takes place this weekend, and all you need to do to take part is watch the birds in your garden or a local Maidenhead park for an hour. Last year over 450,000 people across the UK joined in and recorded over 8.1 million birds in 270,000 gardens! So if you have an hour to spare this weekend, why not watch your birds over breakfast? For more details visit the RSPB's website at: www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch or telephone the RSPB on 01767 680551.

Snakes Alive!
Sunday 11th February
2.00pm - 3.00pm or 3.30pm - 4.30pm

Half-term gets off to a thrilling start when Reptile Celebrities join us at Braywick Nature Centre, Maidenhead! Stroke a snake, hold a lizard and come face-to-face with tropical frogs during these exciting hands-on sessions. Suitable for families: all children must be accompanied by an adult. Places must be booked in advance on 01628 796227.
Cost: £5.50 per person with Advantage Card*

Braywick PLAYDAYS - Hissers and Hoppers!
Tuesday 13th February 2.00pm - 4.00pm or
Thursday 15th February 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Make a snake and find out about frogs at our half-day playschemes all about reptiles and amphibians! For 6 - 10 years; places must be booked in advance on 01628 796227.
Cost: £3.95 per child with Advantage Card*

Lunar Eclipse Watch and Astronomy Talk
Saturday 3rd March 7.45pm - 11.00pm

Meet Maidenhead Astronomical Society and discover the winter night sky by telescope in Braywick Park. MAS members will be providing opportunities for viewing Saturn and watching the full Moon pass into the shadow of the Earth (weather permitting). A talk on "Starting Astronomy" will take place in the Nature Centre from 8.15pm to 9pm; advance booking for this talk is advised. For more information and to book places contact Tim Haymes on 07796 164010 (please leave a message with your name, number of places, andyour contact number). All children must be accompanied by an adult; come dressed for cold conditions! (Advance booking is not necessary for using telescopes.) This event has been organised by the Maidenhead Astronomical Society.
Cost: £1.00 per person payable on the night

Dino-mite!
Sunday 11th March 2.00pm - 5.00pm

Experience a blast from the past at this special event for National Science Week. Start with a walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs around Braywick Park, Maidenhead on our hunt for 'living fossils'. Bring your own fossil discoveries to be identified by our guest palaeontologist and get the chance to hold genuine dinosaur bones. Cut out a mammoth, make your own fossils and even come eye to eye with a Velociraptor - if you dare! All children must be accompanied by an adult; places must be booked in advance on 01628 796227.
Cost: £5.50 per child with Advantage Card*, accompanying adults free of charge

Braywick PLAYDAYS - I Spy Spring!
Tuesday 3rd April 2.00pm - 4.00pm or
Wednesday 11th April 2.00pm - 4.00pm

How many signs of spring can you spot in Braywick Park? Join the Rangers for a fun afternoon of exploration, and make a colourful spring decoration to take home! For 6 - 10 years; places must be booked in advance on 01628 796227.
Cost: £4.10 per child with Advantage Card*

Braywick Trail Challenge 2007!
Wednesday 4th April 1.00pm - 4.00pm or
Thursday 12th April 1.00pm - 4.00pm

Go wild in Braywick Park, Maidenhead! Follow the map, find the clues, and puzzle out the answers - then a chocolate reward will be yours at the end of our spring wildlife quiz trail! No advance booking necessary, but all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Cost: £2.60 per child with Advantage Card*, adults Free

Oak Tree Safari
Thursday 26th April 7.15pm - 9.00pm

What lives in, on and under an oak tree? Local Tree Warden Martin Woolner gives an illustrated talk to allow us to see up close the small things which are usually overlooked: the unseen wildlife of an oak tree. Refreshments are included; places must be booked in advance on 01628 796227.
Cost: £3.60 per adult with Advantage Card*

Foods For Free!

Sunday 6th May 2.00pm - 4.00pm

Have you ever tried dandelion salad, nettle tea, or elderflower cordial? Our ancestors saw the British landscape as a place to find food and medicines… and our modern countryside is still an excellent place to forage for free healthy foods. So join Maidenhead Countryside Rangers on a wild food walk in Braywick Park to explore which of our commoner plants can be eaten or used for medicinal purposes. Meet at Braywick Nature Centre: places must be booked in advance on 01628 796227.
Cost: £3.60 per person with Advantage Card*

Easter at Braywick

Braywick Park, Maidenhead is open to the public over the Easter holiday period with ample free parking. (Please note that Braywick Park car park barrier is locked at 9.00pm.) Why not take a leisurely amble to spot spring flowers, birds and other wildlife in this easily-accessed Local Nature Reserve?

For copies of Braywick Tree Trail, Nature Trail or leaflets about other sites of wildlife interest in the Royal Borough, please contact the Countryside Service on 01628 777440 or by email at: bnc@rbwm.gov.uk

* Non Advantage Card holders are charged a daily entry fee of 80p per Adult and 60p per Junior

No refunds will be made for cancellations less than 48hrs prior to the start of the event, where payment is for less than £10 and unless the place(s) are resold.  All refunds are subject to a £5 administration charge.

Braywick Nature Centre, Hibbert Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 1UU

Tel: 01628 777440

Bus passengers in the Maidenhead Royal Borough are in line for 'the real thing' when it comes to up-to-date information on local services.

Maidenhead council, in conjunction with Courtney Coaches in Maidenhead, and First In Windsor, will be introducing computerised real time information at selected bus stops to give passengers accurate details about when their service will arrive.

The services included in the scheme are:

Windsor: Number 77 from Windsor town centre via Slough to Heathrow
Maidenhead: Number 6 from Maidenhead town centre to Windsor via West Windsor
Number 7 from Woodlands Park to Maidenhead town centre and back.

This is the first phase of a pilot scheme prior to it being extended to other routes and stops, including others in Ascot, Maidenhead and Windsor in due course.

Electronic information boxes showing the number and time of the next buses are being installed at nine key bus stops – the first stage of the programme – with the aim of going live in Maidenhead in mid-January and in Windsor a month later. The start in Windsor is to coincide with First introducing newer buses in the town, so the real-time information will coincide with the arrival of the more modern vehicles for a really up-to-date service.

Around the same time Maidenhead council's website www.rbwm.gov.uk will introduce real time information relating to these three routes so users can key in their bus route and stop – and get not only the scheduled timetable but the actual time their bus will arrive. And text fans will also be able to access real time information at their fingertips.

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for traffic and transport, said this was a major development in the council's commitment to making life better for bus passengers and helping
to reduce congestion across the borough.

He said: "Making improvements that will encourage more people to use our local bus services is a key priority for the council and real time information will be a boon for passengers.

It will mean people can see at a glance when their bus is due and those who live near bus stops will even be able to access the information in the comfort of their own homes through their PC or telephone.phone They can then nip out and catch the bus as it arrives."

The nine bus stops in the first wave of real time information are:
· Frascati Way, Maidenhead (both sides)
· High Street, Maidenhead
· Woodlands Park
· Dedworth Road, Windsor (outside and opposite Tesco)
· High Street, Windsor (two stops)
· Peascod Street, Windsor.

Part of the funding for this phase of the project has come from Section 106 contributions from Legoland Windsor and Cllr Wood said it was an excellent community use of developer's money that would benefit hundreds of people every day.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

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Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 24th December - 30th December 2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

24th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

25th December at Maidenhead

No events planned

26th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

27th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Keane (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

28th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Hoodwinked (U)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

29th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Hoodwinked (U)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

30th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

Maidenhead Police are appealing for witnesses after a man exposed himself to a woman shopper in Maidenhead on Wednesday 13 December.

At around 12.25pm, the woman was in the Card Factory in Nicholson’s Walk shopping centre when she saw a man indecently exposing himself. When challenged, the man ran off, turning right as he left the shop.

The Maidenhead offender is white, aged 45 to 50, 5ft 9ins to 6ft, with an unshaven, scruffy appearance. He has slightly greying black hair, about one inch long, with a bald patch on the crown of his head. He was wearing clear framed spectacles, a dark-coloured zip-up coat, dark blue or grey trousers and black shoes. At the time of the incident he was carrying a white Primark carrier bag.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Howard Rose on 0845 8 505 505, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Police are appealing for witnesses after a Maidenhead house undergoing refurbishment was burgled.

Sometime between 5pm on Wednesday 13 December and 8am on Thursday 14 December, intruders entered a house in Holyport Street, Holyport, through a rear window. The house is unoccupied and in the midst of substantial building works.

The burglars took a plasma TV and audio/video equipment worth approximately £4,500, as well as curtains, blinds and a bed.

Maidenhead PC Hayley Rathbone, who is investigating the burglary, said: “The stolen bed is a double divan, and the curtains are a very distinctive cream material with multi-coloured swirls and flowers. The thieves would have needed a van to remove these bulky items.”

If you saw anyone behaving suspiciously in the area at the time, or if you have any other information about the incident, please contact PC Rathbone on 0845 8 505 505. If you don’t want to speak to police or give your name, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Christmas is definitely in the air at Maidenhead borough libraries next week with two special seasonal storytimes with a festive flavour.

The double helping of Christmas cheer comes to Maidenhead and Ascot libraries on Tuesday December 19 – with an invitation to pre-school youngsters and their parents to come and join in the festive fun and games.

Bringing the magic of Christmas to Maidenhead Library from 2.15 to 3pm will be Henley-based storyteller and entertainer Michael Jones, making a return visit to the library after his successful debut visit in October.

Michael will lead an interactive session of storytelling and songs using puppets and seasonal props to encourage his audience to get into the Christmas spirit.

Ascot library staff will lead Tuesday's second special storytime session at the library in High Street earlier in the day, starting at 10.30am. The Christmas-themed session for under-fives and their parents will also feature Christmas stories and craft activities.

Both sessions are free, no need to book.

For further information contact librarians Vivien Canwell or Ruth Humphreys on 01628 796969.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Frustrated commuters this week branded Maidenhead's new-look rail services to London ‘Third World'.

Peak-hour trains were late, overcrowded and some were even cancelled. Passengers were left standing on platforms as others tried desperately to squeeze onto the few fast trains left in the timetable.

The impact of the new First Great Western (FGW) schedule, which sees fewer fast trains from Maidenhead and Twyford to London Paddington, was compounded by mechanical failures and delays, which heightened people's frustration.

Commuters described being ‘rammed in like sardines', which people feared would be a hazard in the event of an accident. Those lucky enough to have seats had passengers crushed between them, according to Neil Symons, 28, of Brunel Road. The HR manager, a commuter since 1999, said: "It used to be a lottery to get a seat, now it is a lottery to get on a train."

FGW spokesman Lance Cole said: "We had some mechanical issues on Monday morning, it was nothing to do with the timetable." He added FGW adhered to all statutory safety requirements and there was ‘no evidence to suggest overcrowding increases risk'.

FGW said people's comments on the timetable were taken into account following public consultation earlier this year.

A statement from the train operator said: "As a result of the comments, we were able to make numerous amendments to the timetable. However, regrettably it has not been possible to make every change and some people inevitably will be disappointed."

The company said it would monitor the situation closely and if possible, try to make changes to the timetable in the future.

Maidenhead Advertiser

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

Maidenhead Police are urging shoppers to be vigilant following four incidents where purses were stolen from handbags over the weekend.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to all four thefts and are also issuing simple crime reduction advice to help shoppers reduce their chances of becoming a victim.

Peter Bennett, Maidenhead’s crime reduction advisor, said: “With more shoppers than normal in the town centre during the run up to Christmas we have noticed an increase in pickpocket offences and opportunist thefts.

“We are urging everyone to make sure that their shopping bags and handbags are closed and secure.

“The thieves will be looking to steal purses and wallets and if they are really lucky credit card and pin number details – please never keep theses two items together.

“Don’t let yourself become a target. Always keep your handbag closed and if possible keep a hand on it. Never have your handbag or purse resting on top of an open shopping bag.

“It is also important people remain aware of their surroundings and keep their property secure.”

Other advice includes ensuring purses are tucked away at the bottom of handbags, wearing the handbag strap across your body with the openings facing inwards and securing a mini-bell to the purse so that it alerts the owner if it is being tampered with.

The four Maidenhead thefts all happened on Saturday (9/12) afternoon.

The first was in the Birthdays store in the Nicholson Centre, Maidenhead, between 1pm and 1.30pm, where a purse containing £40 and a pension book was taken from an 80-year-old woman’s handbag.

The second was at the Card Factory, in Nicholson’s Walk, between 2pm and 2.15pm, where a purse containing credit cards, other financial documents and £2, was stolen from a 54-year-old woman’s handbag.

The next one took place in the Shaw Charity shop, in the High Street, between 2.15pm and 2.45pm, where a purse containing £300 and cash cards were taken from an 85-year-old woman’s bag.

The final incident happened at the Hall of Cards, in the Nicholson Centre, Maidenhead between 3pm on Saturday on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Although, this is a long time period, the 78-year-old victim last saw the purse in this shop but did not notice it was missing until the following day. The purse contained £200 and cash and store cards.

PC Ben Dyke, from the Maidenhead town centre unit, who is investigating these incidents, said: “I would appeal for anyone with any information about these incidents to contact me urgently.

“It is important that we catch the offender or offenders and are able to bring them to justice.”

Anyone with any information should contact PC Dyke via 0845 8 505 505. Alternatively, please call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Christmas shoppers in Maidenhead are being given an additional helping hand to find convenient car parking in the town centre.

Extra signage has been provided at the gateways to the town to urge more people to use the Hines Meadow car park – and it is hoped that this reminder will encourage shoppers to think of the alternative parking available across the town during the busy Christmas period.

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for Maidenhead traffic and transport, explained: "Since the closure of Tyrells car park for the Sainsbury's development there has been a perception that there are not many parking spaces available in Maidenhead town centre. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

"Spaces are now available close to the shops at Hines Meadow – with more in store when the new development opens in March next year. There is also the park and ride facility at Stafferton Way which gives drivers the option of a free shuttle bus right into the heart of the town – and parking is free on Christmas Eve.

"Maidenhead has lots of parking options and I am hopeful the new signage will remind drivers of the choices available rather than simply joining the queue at the Nicholsons Shopping Centre car park, which fills up very early on busy days."

The additional car park signage was installed following a meeting between the council's parking manager and representatives from Maidenhead Town Partnership and the Chamber of Commerce to discuss how available parking could be promoted in the town.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

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Following the Maidenhead Royal Borough's successful petition to a parliamentary select committee against controversial elements of Crossrail's construction plans in Maidenhead, new details have emerged about how council concerns are to be met.

Crossrail has now offered to make an undertaking to carry out their construction works in ways that:

# protect Guards Club Park and Island and
# help to provide much-needed additional car parking at Maidenhead station.

The offer will be discussed by cabinet members when they meet next week (Thursday December 14).

Crossrail say they will use a barge on the River Thames to deliver construction equipment and to service the central pier of the viaduct at Guards Club Island – which means they will not use the listed footbridge and island for transporting the materials needed for the project. They will also relocate the works depot to under the arches outside the park, with deliveries limited to scaffolding and adminstration/welfare facilities for staff. The site will operate for no longer than 13 months and the footbridge will be restricted to workers carrying hand tools only.

Crossrail will also agree to list the works area and adjacent land as an environmentally sensitive site with a comprehensive management plan to protect the environment of the park and the conservation area Specimen trees will be protected.

At Maidenhead station, Crossrail propose to work with the borough to come up with – and part fund – a suitable site for a multi-storey car park with 100 more spaces than already available at the station car parks. This, says the cabinet report, is a positive response to the borough's case that the growth in passenger numbers as a result of Crossrail demanded a fundamental re-think of facilities at the station, not only for cars but also for improved interchange facilities for buses, taxis, cycles and pedestrians.

Maidenhead Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for traffic and transport, said he welcomed the undertaking as early proof of Crossrail's good intentions. However, the fine print needed to be studied carefully so the council could be absolutely certain that it was the best possible deal for Maidenhead.

He added: "To have achieved these concessions is vindication of the council's determination to protect and enhance local facilities and amenities and make sure that Crossrail does indeed deliver the goods for the borough. Other local organisations were also involved in petitioning parliament and I thank them for their involvement. I think our combined campaign has paid off."

Other petitions submitted on issues affecting Maidenhead included those from Maidenhead Civic Society and Thames Reach Residents' Association.

The borough's opposition to overhead electric cables at the historic Brunel Bridge has forced Crossrail into working with both the council and English Heritage to find a way forward that will not harm the listed structure and minimise the impact on its appearance.

Cllr Wood added: "It is very disappointing that Crossrail could not come up with an alternative to the overhead electrification cables but the council now has the opportunity to influence the ultimate design through this Heritage Agreement. We will be pushing very strongly for the least possible impact on this historic bridge."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 17th December - 23rd December 2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

17th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:00 pm
A Joyful Encounter with the Salvation Army
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth

18th December at Maidenhead

No events planned

19th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 10:30 am
The Snow Dragon
* 1:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
The History Boys (15)

20th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
The History Boys (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

21st December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
The History Boys (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

22nd December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Sixty Six (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

23rd December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Sixty Six (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Caroline Saynor: Childhood Memories

Local Maidenhead road safety and awareness schemes could benefit from a cash injection of more than £50,000 next year, thanks to an unexpected windfall through a government grant scheme.

New arrangements for the Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership mean that from April 1 2007 funding for Maidenhead road safety initiatives carried out by partnership members, such as the Royal Borough, will no longer come from speed camera fines. Instead the Department for Transport will provide partnership funding direct to each local authority from a £110 million national pot.

A report to next week's cabinet meeting (Thursday December 14) reveals that the Thames Valley allocation is likely to be in the region of £5.9 million - £1 million more than the partnership bid - so it looks as if there will not only be additional money to spare but also much more flexibility on how it can be used for local road safety schemes and initiatives that respond to community needs.

The borough is one of nine local authorities in the partnership and its share of the grant is set to be £319,000 for 2007/08. Some £265,000 is needed to fund the partnership's work but the £53,000 left will be retained by the council for local community needs.

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for Maidenhead traffic and transport, said this was good news for the borough and a welcome boost for road safety.

He said: "There is a great deal of road safety work that can't be done by one council working alone. For example, we need the support and full co-operation of other members of the partnership like the police for the installation of speed cameras and the police and magistrates courts for speed enforcement and prosecution. However, there are many other ways of using this additional funding for road safety schemes particularly for the Royal Borough.

"We are already one of the safest boroughs in the UK and we are working even harder to further improve. This extra money in the next year's budget will help us continue our fight to reduce road accidents."

Cllr Wood said another new benefit is that each participating borough will have a board member to influence and agree the partnership's work programme, with more say in how the money is used.

The Thames Valley Safer Roads Partnership was formed in 2000 to improve road safety and reduce accident casualties across the region. As well as nine local authorities it involves Thames Valley Police, the Highways Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty's Courts Service. Revenue from speed camera fines has been given to the partnership to fund enforcement and to educate drivers about the dangers of speeding.

The Maidenhead cabinet report illustrates the effectiveness of the partnership's work in the region through a reduction of 4,230 (22%) in people being injured on the roads and a reduction of 1,745 (42%) of serious injuries and deaths during the first four years of the joint arrangements. This adds up to almost 6,000 families being spared the grief and trauma caused by serious and fatal road accidents.

Cabinet is being recommended to approve the Royal Borough's continuing membership of the partnership and for Cllr Wood to be council's representative.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Maidenhead Royal Borough's proposal to build a state-of-the-art school for children with disabilities goes out for widespread consultation this week – and everyone with an interest in the project is invited to have their say.

The council is proposing to use government funding to provide a brand new special school – to replace the old and outdated Holyport Manor – on the same education campus as Cox Green Secondary, Maidenhead and Lowbrook Primary schools.

The Maidenhead special school would have its own access off Cannon Lane, yet be part of an existing education community, not only benefiting pupils with special educational needs but also bringing additional value for young people attending mainstream schools.

The consultation document is going out from Wednesday (December 6) to parents, staff and governors of all the schools concerned, parish councils, local residents and community groups, partner organisations such as the primary care trust, voluntary organisations such as Mencap and to neighbouring local authorities that use Holyport Manor.

To ensure everyone with an interest in the proposal has access to the fullest information, the council is holding two drop-in sessions:

* Cox Green School – Wednesday January 17 (4 – 7.30pm)
* Holyport Manor Special School – Thursday January 18 (1.30 – 7.30pm).

Further information is also available on 01628 796572.

Cllr Cynthia Pitteway, lead member for Maidenhead education, and Cllr Kathy Newbound, lead member for children's and young people's services, are encouraging as many people as possible to use the sessions to help them take a full and informed part in the consultation.

Cllr Pitteway said: "This is one of the most exciting educational opportunities in the Royal Borough for many years. The government funding offers the chance to give young people with learning disabilities the facilities they deserve to help them achieve their very best. However, we can't take this forward unless we have the views of everyone concerned and this consultation is a genuine attempt to give people easy ways of getting their comments across."

Maidenhead Cllr Newbound said: "We owe it to all our children to give them the best possible chances to achieve. The council has been trying for many years to find ways of replacing Holyport Manor with modern teaching and residential accommodation and at last we have a way forward that has strong potential to attract the government funding we need."

The opportunity has arisen through the government's Building Schools for the Future: One School Pathfinder initiative and the council's submission is now being assessed by the Department for Education and Skills.

The new, fully-accessible school would: be of similar size to Holyport Manor; allow more children to be educated closer to home than is currently the case; include a residential unit as now, and offer respite provision for children whose parents need help with their care.

Anyone who wishes to take part in the consultation may do so by:

* Using the consultation form or writing to Holyport Manor Special School consultation, Freepost RLYH-SHYR-JUXJ, Town Hall St Ives Road, Maidengead SL6 1RF or
* Emailing holyportmanorconsultation@rbwm.gov.uk

Closing date for responses is Monday January 29 2007.

Consultation process

Following the public consultation a further report will be taken to cabinet and, if approved, the Maidenhead new school proposal would be published as a formal statutory notice, allowing two months for comments and objections. If there were no objections cabinet could take the decision to proceed but if there were objections the matter would, under current legislation, be decided by the local independent school organisation committee (SOC), which must give unanimous support . If the SOC could not agree, the final decision would be taken by the government's schools adjudicator.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Last-minute Christmas shoppers in Maidenhead have just been given an early present – the Stafferton Way park and ride will run a special Sunday bus service on Christmas Eve.

Using the park and ride, which has 600 spaces, will allow residents to avoid potential queues for parking on the last shopping day before Christmas.

The first bus will leave Stafferton Way at 10.30am and run every 20 minutes until the last pick-up from Broadway at 6.08pm, safely covering the shop opening hours of 11am to 5pm. Parking charges will remain the same – £1.50 for up to four hours and £3 for a full day, and free shuttle bus service – as the additional cost of running the service on a Sunday will be covered by Sainsbury's.

Cllr Antony Wood, lead member for traffic and transport, said: "The park and ride, with its regular free shuttle bus service, offers an easy and convenient way to shop in Maidenhead, especially on Christmas Eve when we expect local shops to be very busy indeed. I am delighted the council has worked in partnership with Sainsbury's to provide this additional support to the businesses in the town centre and I would encourage drivers to use the park and ride to beat the queues and make their last-minute Christmas shopping as hassle-free as possible."

For details of the Stafferton Way bus timetable over the pre-Christmas period, visit www.courtneycoaches.com

The Christmas Eve timetable is the same as the regular Saturday timetable from 10.30am.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

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Teaching assistants from throughout the Maidenhead Royal Borough will be honoured for their own educational achievements at a certificate presentation ceremony on Friday December 1.

The teaching assistants, representing more than 23 primary and secondary-age schools from Ascot, Maidenhead and Windsor, have achieved career-related qualifications ranging from NVQ2 through NVQ3 to Higher Level Teaching Assistant status.

Cllr Cynthia Pitteway, lead member for Maidenhead education, will present the certificates at the event which takes place at Moor Hall, Cookham from 4pm to 6pm. Headteachers and senior school staff will also attend to celebrate their staff members' achievements.

Cllr Pitteway said: "I would like to say a big congratulations and 'well done' to all of the teaching assistants who have worked so hard to achieve these qualifications.

"The Royal Borough, through the Learning & Achievement team, places a high priority on training for teaching staff. We realise that increasing their skills is of benefit to both the individual and the children they work with.

"The borough has a particularly good reputation for training teaching assistants and it is something that is regularly commented upon in Ofsted reports on our schools."

At present there are 200 teaching assistants from borough schools in training.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 10th December - 16th December 2006
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

10th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
An Inconvenient Truth (U)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth
* 1:30 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Group D
* 4:00 pm
Norden Lights Youth Theatre Group E

11th December at Maidenhead

No events planned

12th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 10:30 am
The Snow Dragon
* 1:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Mountain Patrol (Kekexili) (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth

13th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 10:30 am
The Snow Dragon
* 1:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Mountain Patrol (Kekexili) (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth

14th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 10:30 am
The Snow Dragon
* 1:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:45 pm
Charity Christmas Concert
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth

15th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 10:30 am
The Snow Dragon
* 1:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 8:00 pm
An Albion Christmas
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth

16th December at Maidenhead

* Performances
* 11:00 am
The Snow Dragon
* 2:00 pm
The Snow Dragon
* 7:30 pm
Dracula
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Film Innovations: Context and Perspectives in Film History
* 10:00 am
Katie Blyth

The high priority given to adult social care services in the Maidenhead Royal Borough has been recognised with the retention of two stars in the latest ratings from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI).

The CSCI assessment says that social care services for adults are serving most people well with promising capacity for improvement and inspectors had particular praise for:

* the way the Maidenhead council is leading the field nationally on the extensive and innovative use of direct payments – where residents are given budgets to pay for their own individual care needs and
* the impressive and ambitious 'bricks and mortar' reprovisioning programme in conjunction with housing associations – for example, the new Clara Court in Maidenhead and the planned residential home and day centre for older people in Windsor – all achieved through the re-use of capital assets and without any new capital spend.

The CSCI report, published on Thursday November 30, underlines the Maidenhead council's sustained and further improvement in performance, planning, commissioning and delivery of adult social care – welcomed by lead member Cllr Pam Proctor.

Maidenhead Cllr Proctor said: "Last year we achieved two star status for the first time, having been a no star authority back in 2002, and I am delighted our measured, consistent approach to service delivery is recognised by the CSCI. The council has always made it clear we are not into knee jerk reactions or quick fixes that have no guarantee of long-term sustainability. We want to build robust services that meet our residents' needs and provide good and satisfying career development prospects for our staff.

"This report clearly demonstrates that we are on the right path. Inspectors appreciate our far-sightedness and determination to build adult care services for the future needs of our borough, and not just for the short term. This is a satisfying outcome and a great tribute to all staff who work so hard and show such commitment to the people who depend on them for their care."

The report highlights a range of further strengths including:

* no delayed discharges from hospitals – so no fines
* excellent relationship with partner organisations such as housing associations and the Primary Care Trust
* active partnership boards, including the carers partnership board – where service users and voluntary groups have a say in service policy development
* the recent domiciliary care review that should achieve good results
* extensive training for staff and excellent recruitment and retention performance
* equality and diversity plans in place for each service
* the Bridge that Gap café in the Town Hall, offering work experience to people with learning disabilities.

The report also mentions a number of areas for continued improvement, all of which are already being addressed and will feed into the learning and care directorate's action plans.

Jim Gould, corporate director of Maidenhead learning and care, said he was pleased and encouraged by the confirmation of the Royal Borough's progress and by the CSCI's recognition of innovative work in a number of areas.

He said: "We will always have more work to do and more to achieve. However, it is pleasing to have our continued progress recognised and our staff remain enthusiastic in their commitment to doing their very best for the benefit of borough residents and service users."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Maidenhead Royal Borough is facing probably its biggest ever challenge following the government's grant settlement for the next financial year.

Maidenhead Cllr David Eglise, lead member for resources, said the news came as no surprise since the government had already indicated its grant level for 2007/08 at this time last year – but the actual amount was even lower than anticipated and the indications were that the Royal Borough had been allocated the second lowest increase of any unitary council in the shire counties.

The Maidenhead grant settlement, announced by the government on Tuesday November 29, gives the borough a total of £15.87 million in Formula Grant, just £230,000 more than last year which equates to a 1.4% increase at a time when inflation on local authority services is running at over 4%.

Cllr Eglise said: "This presents us with one of the biggest resource challenges we have ever faced as we balance the increased demand for council services – especially for the more vulnerable members of our community, for improved transport systems and with the need to find environmentally friendly solutions for dealing with waste – against the financial reality of diminishing resources.

"To say we are disappointed is the understatement of the year. Reform of local government finance is long overdue and we look to the publication of the Lyons Report in the hope that it will recognise and tackle the financial challenges of providing services to meet the increasing expectation of local communities."

Cllr Eglise said the new settlement made the Maidenhead Royal Borough's continuing modernisation programme more relevant than ever.

He said: "Over the past three years the Delivering Excellence programme has been geared towards making our local services more efficient, changing the council to smarter ways of working – for example, through the customer service centre – and achieving better value for money and cost effectiveness in the way be buy goods and services.

"This approach is giving us a head start on coping with yet another derisory grant settlement and we will continue to seek ways of becoming even more efficient in the months ahead. However, it is very depressing that the government continues to pay scant regard to the needs of its local communities and put pressure on services that are often lifelines for the growing numbers of older people and the most vulnerable."

Cllr Eglise said it was much too early to say what effect the settlement would have on next year's Maidenhead council tax but gave his assurance that any local increase would be kept to the absolute minimum.

This is the second year that funding for schools has been allocated under the Dedicated Schools Grant, separate from the Formula Grant for all other council services.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead