Maidenhead & Windsor

Improvements at Nicholsons Shopping Centre car park, Maidenhead are nearing completion and Monday March 3 will see the introduction of new pay and display machines that will mean benefits for Advantage Card holders as well as being simpler to use and more efficient than the current out-of-date 'pay on foot' system.

One of Maidenhead's most popular car parks, Nicholsons itself and the Broadway approach frequently suffer from congestion and poor air quality because of the backed-up traffic. However, the arrival of the new machines will mean:

* reduced queuing and better traffic flow inside the car park
* reduced congestion at the entrance on Broadway and
* a dramatic improvement in air quality in this part of the town.

And there is good news too for Royal Borough residents as the council is introducing yellow Advantage Card tariffs so that local people will benefit from NO CHANGE to the current parking fees for up to three hours when increased car park charges start on March 3.

Part of the Windsor and Maidenhead borough-wide car park improvement programme, the Nicholsons scheme has already seen re-painted parking bays to free up more short stay spaces for shoppers, the installation of modern electrical equipment to control energy use to help reduce the council's carbon footprint, and white paintwork throughout to make the car park brighter and more welcoming. Cash and credit card payment and change machines have also been conveniently located on all main levels.

The safety of everyone using the car park is a high priority and one of the most significant improvements is the installation of CCTV cameras which record and are monitored 24 hours a day. The car park has already achieved the Park Mark – the Thames Valley Police Secured Car Park award – and the addition of CCTV further enhances safety and security for all users.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways, transport and environment, said the Nicholsons car park improvements created a much better and safer environment to help attract more town centre shoppers.

He said: "Pay and display systems are tried and tested in other borough car parks and are both popular with drivers and more cost-effective for the council – and because they need much less looking after, our parking officers will be freed up to carry out more car park patrols. Along with the 24-hour CCTV cameras, this will bring about greater safety and security for all. The new machines are also much easier and cheaper to maintain that the old pay-on-foot system, which means better value for council taxpayers.

"We also have taken the opportunity to freeze charges for borough residents who have Advantage Cards so we can continue to encourage local people to come into Maidenhead to shop and enjoy the town's leisure opportunities."

Cllr David Burbage, council leader and lead member for Maidenhead, said that local retailers had expressed concerns about the installation of the new system and the council was listening to their views:

Cllr Burbage said: "While pay and display is now widely used in council car parks, we appreciate there is no single view on the merits of one system or another. We will be reviewing the car park arrangements with respect to pay and display later this year, taking into account not just Nicholson's, but all car parks across the borough."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead