Maidenhead & Windsor

A support group for Windsor and Maidenhead children and mothers affected by domestic abuse is to be launched in the Royal Borough. The new group - which starts in September - follows a successful pilot scheme earlier this year.

Called PICADA (Positive Intervention for Children Affected by Domestic Abuse), the Windsor and Maidenhead group will be provided by the council in partnership with Family Friends and Berkshire East and South Bucks Women's Aid.

The Windsor and Maidenhead support group will give children the opportunity to understand what has happened in their family and express their feelings in a safe and blame-free environment. Trained facilitators will work with the children to prepare safety plans in case they are exposed to further abuse, either directly or indirectly.

Mothers will be able to use the opportunity to understand what their child is learning so they can better support them.

Cllr Colin Rayner, cabinet member with responsibility for Windsor and Maidenhead community safety, said: "Teenagers, children and babies are all too often exposed to domestic abuse, either witnessing it or by being abused themselves.

"Domestic abuse can come from either mothers or fathers but is often from boyfriends or girlfriends of the child's parents. We all need to protect the most vulnerable in our borough. We all have a social responsibility.

"The pilot scheme was well received and I am encouraged that the borough and its partners are able to run a further group.

"The council takes domestic abuse very seriously and will continue to work with all its partners to help reduce this problem. It is key that groups such as PICADA are available to provide this much needed support."

Sophie Wing-King, Berkshire East domestic abuse co-ordinator, said: "Almost 2,000 children contact Childline every year about domestic abuse problems, and at least three quarters of children under a Child Protection Plan live in households where domestic abuse occurs.

"Many children growing up in an abusive family will feel alone and scared. They may either self harm or suffer injuries if they try to intervene, or often blame themselves for what is going on."

For more information or to refer to PICADA contact Sophia Lazarou at Family Friends on 01628 683388.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough has welcomed the announcement by the government on Thursday (23 July) that the Great Western Mainline rail route between London and Swansea - at present the longest non-electrified intercity route in Britain - is to be electrified.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways and streetcare, said the £1bn project was good news for borough residents who could look forward to improved national rail access and more efficient local rail services within the Thames Valley.

He said: "This announcement increases the chances of Crossrail being extended to Reading rather than ending at Maidenhead, resulting in improved services to this important national rail interchange. It also greatly improves the case for a new rail link to Heathrow from the west, which we strongly support to encourage more people to use public transport to get to and from the airport."

Electrification work is expected to begin immediately and commuters travelling between London and Swindon, and intermediate stations, should benefit from the reliability and comfort of electric trains from as early as 2016. Works should mostly be undertaken at night to minimise disruption to existing services.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Rayner added: "We will watch developments closely to ensure that the interests of local rail passengers are protected, and especially that they can enjoy the full combined benefits of electrification and Crossrail when it is operational. In addition, we will watch train fares to ensure local commuters are treated fairly. We want to make sure that we still have fast trains stopping at Maidenhead between London and Reading. We wanted all current services retained, plus additional services for the commuters."

Electric trains have a number of significant advantages over diesel-powered trains. They are:

* faster
* quieter
* greener as they produce less carbon dioxide and emit no air pollution at the trackside
* more reliable
* lighter and cause less wear and tear on the tracks
* more cost-effective for carrying freight loads
* cheaper to buy, operate and maintain.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

A man has was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Friday (24/7) after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to sexually assaulting a young woman in Maidenhead in March 2009.

Ryan Wright, aged 25, of Reeve Road, Holyport, Maidenhead was handed a three-year supervision order and must complete the Thames Valley Police sex offenders programme within 12 months. He was also placed on the Sex Offenders Register for five years.

Wright had pleaded guilty to sexual assault at a hearing at Reading Crown Court on 1 July.

The sentence relates to an incident in Bridge Avenue, Maidenhead, at 12.15am on 29 March. A 21-year-old woman was walking along the road when she was approached by Wright, who grabbed her by the neck and sexually assaulted her.

Supt Tim De Meyer, Commander of Windsor and Maidenhead local police area, said:

“Our detectives worked extremely hard on this inquiry, piecing together all of the evidence to build a very compelling case. This is a typical example of the work that my detectives do day in day out to protect vulnerable people and catch dangerous offenders.”

Thames Valley Police ~ Maidenhead

Two Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough schools have each notched up very "special" end-of-term reports with a trio of successes in national awards.

Celebrations at Churchmead School in Datchet will take place in September following the news that it has been awarded:
• specialist college status in visual arts, media and English - recognising the high standard of media and arts work carried out in the school
• its first healthy schools award, which recognises the importance of a healthy lifestyle in all aspects of school life and
• its second Investors in People award - this time bronze.

And Newlands Girls' School in Maidenhead becomes the first school in the borough to gain three specialist college awards as it picks up its third specialist college award - adding applied learning status to its already-existing technology and training school awards.

These latest successes mean that all the Windsor and Maidenhead borough's secondary schools now boast specialist status - Charters (sports); Windsor Boys' and Cox Green (performing arts); Altwood and Windsor Girls' (business enterprise), Furze Platt Senior (mathematics and computing) and Desborough (language college).

In addition, the borough's four middle schools - Dedworth, St Edward's Royal Free, St Peter's and Trevelyan - are all affiliated to Windsor Boys' special performing arts college.

Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead children's services, said this week: "This is great news for both Churchmead and Newlands and I would like to congratulate the headteachers, staff and everyone involved in gaining these well-deserved awards.

"I wish them every success in working with other local schools and the community to share their knowledge and skills."

Gaynor Goodman, headteacher of Churchmead School, said everyone at the school was on a "real high" after the news of their awards. "This specialist status recognises all the really good work that goes on at the school in media and the arts, and English too. We will definitely be celebrating with the whole school at the start of the new term in September - this is just the icing on the cake after the IIP and healthy schools award!"

Louise Ceska, headteacher of Newlands Girls' School, said: "We are delighted to have gained our third specialism, which reflects a great deal of hard work by a great many people.

"We are now looking forward to working in partnership with the local community and businesses to develop our curriculum and offer new courses and opportunities for students to provide them with the skills employers are looking for."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Charters School has won the £5,000 top prize in the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough's first Best Kept School competition.

The Sunningdale school achieved an impressive score of 99% from Windsor and Maidenhead councillors who assessed all the borough's secondary schools based on the amount of litter, vandalism and graffiti, as well as the quality of displays, both inside and outside.

Dedworth Middle School in Windsor takes second place overall and the £3,000 prize for highest-scoring middle school.

Both prizes are in the form of a capital grant to be used to further improve the school environment as the schools see fit.

Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead children's services and one of the judges, said: "I was very impressed by the high standard we found in our schools. It is obvious that a large number of our young people are proud of their schools and take an active interest in caring for the environment.

"Charters School is a very worthy winner, with almost full marks in every category, but several others were hot on their heels."

Judging took place in June following a drive in which pupils were encouraged to spruce up their grounds, reception areas, classrooms, toilets and corridors.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Quick added: "This competition has taken our policy of zero tolerance on littering into our schools in a constructive and fun way and has contributed to a positive environment for learning - so much so that we intend to make it an annual event."

All the schools are to receive a letter detailing and explaining their results.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 2 August - 8 August 2009
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

2nd August in Maidenhead

* Film
* 3:00 pm
Britain at Bay: Peace and War 1937 - 1940 (U)
* 7:30 pm
Britain at Bay: Peace and War 1937 - 1940 (U)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Place; Memory and Dreams

3rd August in Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Summer Circus Week

4th August in Maidenhead

* Film
* 8:00 pm
Is Anybody There? (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Summer Circus Week
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

5th August in Maidenhead

* Film
* 8:00 pm
Is Anybody There? (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Ink Marks
* 10:00 am
Summer Circus Week
* 1:30 pm
Ink Marks
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

6th August in Maidenhead

* Film
* 8:00 pm
Age of Stupid (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Ink Marks
* 10:00 am
Summer Circus Week
* 1:30 pm
Ink Marks
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

7th August in Maidenhead

* Film
* 8:00 pm
Last Chance Harvey (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Summer Circus Week
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

8th August in Maidenhead

* Film
* 3:00 pm
Last Chance Harvey (12A)
* 8:00 pm
Last Chance Harvey (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Place; Memory and Dreams

Summer Tennis Lessons Camp in Maidenhead

Dates: 27th July to 28th August

Venue: Newlands School, Farm Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 5JB

Contact Name: Shaun Woodward

Tel: 0118 375 8324 (please quote PK)

Details:

Daily Tennis Lessons during the summer holidays for children aged 5 to 15.
Open to all levels from Beginners to Advanced.
Courses run from 8.30am/10am to 1pm/3pm/4.30pm
Prices start from £20 a day with discounts available for weekly bookings.
All tennis coaches are LTA qualified and are regularly checked by the Criminal Records Bureau to ensure that they are safe to work with children.
Please give us a call for further details

Fewer Windsor and Maidenhead traffic hold-ups and better travel information. That's the aim of a new council initiative that will bring about better co-ordination of roadworks and more information for residents, visitors, businesses and the travelling public.

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough wants all the utility companies to work more closely together and with the council to schedule roadworks effectively so that if one organisation plans to dig for repairs or installations others can take the opportunity to do their works at the same time.

This 'joined up working' would be achieved through the Windsor and Maidenhead council's proposal for a Joint Royal Borough/Utlilty Partnership Charter, which is now being developed and would aim to:
• maximise forward planning
• minimise disruption
• increase information for the public and
• make sure that roads and footways are reinstated to the correct standard.

Last Friday (18 July) utility representatives joined the Windsor and Maidenhead council at the Guildhall for an initial meeting to discuss the proposal and afterwards Cllr Colin Rayner said he was very encouraged by the positive response.

Cllr Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways and streetcare, said: "With the Olympics just three years away and the Royal Borough already a centre for international events and a magnet for more than seven million visitors a year, we have an important focus for taking this partnership forward. Many utilities already liaise effectively with the council to minimise disruption and give out as much information as possible, but we can improve. I believe the partnership will bring real benefits for everyone using the borough's roads and will help us outlaw cowboy sub contractors digging up our streets.

"We appreciate utilities have to do repairs and installations but the council wants to work in close co-operation with them so they get it right first time. Council roadworks also have to be done so we must make sure we are all working closely closely together. The needs of our residents come first at all times."

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Rayner said Friday's meeting was attended by a number of utility companies who backed the partnership charter proposal - a new level of co-operation between all the orgniasations concerned.

Council officers will now develop the charter for utility companies to comment on. It is hoped the new charter will be in operation by the autumn.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Two thirds of Windsor and Maidenhead residents questioned in a recent survey want the level of fire cover in the borough to be decided locally - and run by the council rather than the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority.

The survey - carried out for the Windsor and Maidenhead council by BMG Research in the wake of the fire authority's decision to axe night-time cover at Windsor Fire Station from next year - asked 300 members of the borough's Viewpoint Panel their views on the provision of fire services locally.

The results showed that:

• nearly two-thirds (65%) would prefer fire cover to be decided at a local level - compared with 28% supporting the level of cover being decided on a Berkshire-wide basis
• just over two-thirds (66%) of those who preferred local provision thought the council should run the service, with only 12% believing the service should be run by the fire authority
• nearly nine in 10 people (86%) thought that better fire prevention measures such as sprinklers on buildings and more fire prevention training should be used to free up firefighters for active duty.

Cllr David Burbage, leader of the Windsor and Maidenhead council, said: "The results are extremely encouraging, and demonstrate the level of support for the council's determination to provide a round-the-clock fire service for all our residents.

"We are working hard to ensure that we have a solid proposal to send to government which will enable our residents to decide how our fire service is run. We are keen to use the Sustainable Communities Act to benefit local people so we can decide locally how best to serve our residents rather than having services and service levels imposed upon us."

Cllr Christine Bateson, one of the Windsor and Maidenhead council's representatives on the fire authority, agreed. She said: "We have worked long and hard on behalf of the residents of Windsor to fight the fire authority's decision to axe-night-time cover at Windsor fire station. This is the next stage in our ongoing campaign to ensure that all of our residents and visitors benefit from the level of fire cover they need and deserve."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

When a girl's enjoyed a welcome makeover it's perfectly natural to want to show off and celebrate her "new look" - and Grenfell Park in Maidenhead is no exception!

The transformation of Maidenhead's oldest park began in February as part of the Royal Borough's ongoing commitment to providing quality open spaces - and the first phase culminates in a family fun day celebration on Saturday 25 July.

The Windsor and Maidenhead park's new look features:

• a new pedestrian entrance created after the demolition of the old toilet block
• a larger car park with more parking bays
• new central path leading to South Road
• new fountain
• new picnic benches sponsored by 3
• new football goalposts
• improved views across the park following the clearance of overgrown areas.

Saturday's fun day celebrations kick off at 11am and feature a bouncy castle, human table football, sumo suits and a penalty shoot-out. The event is free, and families are invited to bring a picnic.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, said: "This is a real red-letter day for Grenfell Park, marking the end of the first phase of improvements - and what better way to celebrate than by inviting families to come along and enjoy this revamped little oasis so close to town.

"When planning these improvements we listened to what local residents wanted, and feel sure that the work we have carried out to date will make the park a more welcoming and safer open space for everyone. So come down on Saturday and help us celebrate!"

Hugh Davies, director of Windsor and Maidenhead corporate affairs at 3, which has sponsored the new picnic benches, said: "We are pleased to support Windsor and Maidenhead council in their makeover of Grenfell Park. Access to quality leisure facilities is essential in today's fast-paced society and we are sure the revamped Grenfell Park will provide the local community with a very welcome green space in which to play and relax."

The next phase of the work at Grenfell Park will feature:

• the installation of a replacement cannon later in the summer for the howitzer cannon and gun carriage which graced the park for 50 years before disappearing in the 1950s
• the installation of a CCTV camera
• more tree work in the autumn
• three benches and an Indian Bean tree to be placed in the park as a memorial to popular local doctor, Bhagwan Maudgil, who died in May.

Karnail Pannu, chair of Windsor and Maidenhead community forum, said this week on behalf of the Maudgil family: "Dr Maudgil moved to Maidenhead and set up a GP surgery in Cordwallis Road in 1972 and his wife Daljit set up a dental surgery. Most of his patients were Asians but quite a few Italians and other locals joined his practice later.

"Dr Maudgil was very popular and played a leading role in the community - and his surgery became a temple of hope and faith for his patients. He leaves behind his wife, two married sons and a young daughter. He was a wonderful family man, an excellent GP and a great friend. His patients have contributed the benches which will be placed in the park in Dr Maudgil's memory."

Grenfell Park was originally presented to the town in 1889 by William Grenfell, later Lord Desborough - hence its name.

For further information about the fun day and the work in Grenfell Park contact Kevin Mist, head of leisure services, on 01628 796443.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

A bumper pack of summer activities is planned for Windsor and Maidenhead parks throughout the borough during Love Parks Week which runs from Saturday 25 July to Sunday 2 August.

With Windsor and Maidenhead events for every member of the family and many of them FREE it's a golden opportunity to enjoy the benefits of the borough's attractive, popular parks and open spaces.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, said: "Love Parks Week is a great way to celebrate what parks and green spaces mean to our local communities. In the current financial climate parks are more important than ever - they are free to visit and provide opportunities to improve health, relax and unwind, enjoy nature, play and have fun.

"This year we hope as many people as possible will show support for the campaign by attending an event and taking advantage of what these fantastic places have to offer."

Events in the borough include:

· Friday 24 - Sunday 26 July: Free Maidenhead at the Movies, Kidwells Park, Maidenhead
· Saturday 25 July, 11am-2pm: Free family fun day at Grenfell Park, Maidenhead
· Monday 27 July, 10am-4pm: Meet the guinea pigs at Ray Mill Island, Maidenhead
· Monday 27 July, 11am-4.30pm: Free family fun day at Oaken Grove Park, Maidenhead
· Monday 27 - Friday 31 July: Children's tennis courses at Home Park, Windsor and Kidwells Park
· Monday 27 - Friday 31 July: Free 1319 parish tours from Alfred Major Recreation Ground, Cookham
· Monday 27 - Friday 31 July, 11am-5pm: Free 1319 holiday activities at Oaken Grove and Desborough Parks, Maidenhead, Imperial and Osgood Parks, Windsor
· Tuesday 28 July, 2-3.30pm: Free ranger-led nature walk around Ockwells Park, Maidenhead
· Tuesday 28 July - Sunday 2 August: A Midsummer Night's Dream open air theatre at Alexandra Gardens, Windsor (discounted entry for Advantage Cardholders)
· Wednesday 29 July, 2-3.30pm: Free ranger-led nature walk around Sutherland Grange, Windsor
· Thursday 30 July, 10am-4pm: Meet the guinea pigs at Ray Mill Island
· Thursday 30 July, 2-3.30pm: Free ranger-led nature walk around Allens Field, Ascot
· Friday 31 July: Free 1319 barbeque at Alfred Major Recreation Ground
· Saturday 1 August, 11am-5.30pm: Free family fun day at Oaken Grove.

For further details visit www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/parks_love_parks_week.htm or call Kath Harlow on 01628 796252.

Residents can also enter the Postcards from the Park photography competition with £1,000 of Jessops' vouchers up for grabs plus the chance to have their photos exhibited at a London gallery. The closing date is Monday 3 August. Visit www.postcardsfromthepark.org.uk for further details.

Love Parks Week is organised annually by charity GreenSpace to raise awareness of the importance of parks.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Oldfield Primary - one of Maidenhead's most popular and over-subscribed schools where demand for places is more than three times the number available every year - could be in line for expansion.

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough is proposing a feasibility study into an option that would retain the infant classes on the existing Chiltern Road site and build a brand new school a short distance away at Bray Road to cater for the older children.

A report will be discussed by Windsor and Maidenhead councillors at the children's services overview and scrutiny (O&S) panel on Tuesday 21 July before going to cabinet for decision on Thursday 27 August.

If the new school went ahead, it would be grant funded by the government's Primary Strategy for Change (PSfC) programme, which aims to rebuild, remodel or refurbish half of all schools nationally to make them fit for the 21st century, both as learning environments and as community hubs.

Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead children's services, said the council was committed to examining all options for providing the best possible educational opportunities for local children.

She said: "Oldfield is one of the borough's most popular schools and our figures show that demand will keep on rising in the years ahead. We have a responsibility to explore ways of offering new and better solutions so that good schools can continue to flourish and cater for larger numbers of pupils in the future.

"The option of a new build at Oldfield is in its earliest stages and a feasibility study will show us if this is the right way forward."

The report to O&S highlights the steadily rising primary school numbers in east Maidenhead's four primary schools, with more than 100 additional children on the roll in year groups 1 to 6 than in 2001. At Oldfield alone, demand for the 30 available places every year has continually increased - from 78 in 2006/07 to 99 in the current year (2009/10).

Under the government's PSfC, the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough has been allocated £3m for 2009/10 and £5.4m for 2010/11. Twelve schools are already benefitting in either the current or next financial years with additional classrooms or extensions.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 26 July - 1 August 2009
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

26th July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 3:00 pm
Mark of an Angel (12A)
* 7:30 pm
Mark of an Angel (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Berkshire Yarns

27th July in Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Summer Theatre Week

28th July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 8:00 pm
In The Loop (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Summer Theatre Week

29th July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 8:00 pm
In The Loop (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Ink Marks
* 10:00 am
Summer Theatre Week
* 1:30 pm
Ink Marks
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

30th July in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Summer Concert Series 1: St Johns Ensemble
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Ink Marks
* 10:00 am
Summer Theatre Week
* 1:30 pm
Ink Marks
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

31st July in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Patrick Monahan Preview: My Kind of People
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Summer Theatre Week
* 2:00 pm
Place; Memory and Dreams

1st August in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Students Concert
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Place; Memory and Dreams

Windsor and Maidenhead Residents living around or near Badnell's Pit in Maidenhead are being urged to work with the Royal Borough to make sure that the expected decontamination and remediation of the site takes place safely and with the least possible disturbance.

Although the Michael Shanly Group has not yet announced if the scheme will definitely go ahead, the Windsor and Maidenhead council is forging ahead with preparation work. And now it wants to hear from local people interested in representing their neighbours and other residents on the monitoring group that will keep a watch on this highly sensitive work.

Cllr Alison Knight, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead planning and development, said: "It is absolutely essential that we make the best use of time while we await the Shanly announcement. Council officers from a wide range of specialisms have been meeting regularly to co-ordinate the preparations needed for such a complex scheme.

"We are fortunate to have council experts on key issues such as town planning, noise, dust, vibration, decontamination, emergency planning and highway engineering - but we also need residents to get involved in the new monitoring group so that they can not only represent local views but report back to their neighbours and communities about what is happening on the site."

The monitoring group will work with the Windsor and Maidenhead council to:

• help appoint an independent de-contamination consultant to monitor the ongoing results of decontamination tests undertaken by the developer
• monitor and review the results of the developer's test results
• keep the local community informed
• help ensure that disturbance is minimised during the development.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Knight added: "We are very grateful to the many people who were part of the original monitoring group set up when the decontamination was first proposed. Now we need to make sure that the views of newer residents are also represented and that those involved previously still have the time to commit to what will be a highly important community role."

Anyone interested in being involved and representing their neighbours and other residents on the group is asked to contact the Windsor and Maidenhead council at badnells@rbwm.gov.uk or at the Town Hall, St Ives Road, giving their name, address and contact phone number. They are also asked to set out (in no more than 50 words) what they feel they can contribute to the group so that if there are many volunteers this information can be used to help residents select a representative group.

As part of its planning permission the Michael Shanly Group must hold a meeting with residents at least four months in advance of the work getting started. Any announcement will come through the council, which will ensure that information is distributed with the help of monitoring group members.

The Windsor and Maidenhead council is committed to a free flow of information both before and throughout the scheme and the first of a series of newsletters was distributed to residents last week.

Residents who want to receive all council updates on the decontamination scheme should send their details to badnells@rbwm.gov.uk. The council will also have special web pages and a telephone information line to ensure information is readily available to local people.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough youngsters will once again be demonstrating the success of spending by young people for young people at a special celebration evening this week.

More than 70 young people from youth groups across the Windsor and Maidenhead borough will present the results of their successful bids for funding under the increasingly-popular Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) scheme at the presentation evening on Tuesday 14 July in the Desborough Suite, Town Hall, Maidenhead, from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

For the last three years the national scheme has provided £160,000 to the Windsor and Maidenhead borough to be spent on group activities and projects for 13-19-year-olds.

Young people trained as assessors invite other young people and youth groups to apply for funding for schemes such as residential courses, arts workshops, DJ workshops and the purchasing of new equipment.

Panels of young assessors consider applications and decide which schemes should be allocated money - and many of the groups who have received funding in the last financial year will be showing how they have spent their money at the celebration evening.

Windsor and Maidenhead Groups awarded funding and attending the celebration evening include:

• New Windsor girls football team - their allocation funded new football kit
• Broom Farm youth club - a residential activity weekend
• Windsor youth club - an on-street art project with a group of young travellers
• Holyport youth club - £15,00 towards a new youth centre
• The Connections Intensive team - week-long social and educational workshops for young people not currently in education or training
• Maidenhead Vibe youth club - furniture for the young club.

Groups will display their projects and demonstrate to the assessors and other visitors how their group has benefited from the funding. Assessors will also be on hand to talk to visitors about how the funding works and the criteria for groups applying for funding.

Cllr Eileen Quick, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead children's services, said: "The Youth Opportunity Fund scheme has proved incredibly popular in the borough, with more and more groups applying for funding each year.

"The funding really does help groups to do the things they want to do and undertake activities they would otherwise not be able to afford - which in turn helps to develop confidence and skills.

"This week's showcase evening is a perfect way of showing just how the Youth Opportunity funding has been spent, which will hopefully inspire other groups to take advantage of this great scheme.

"It really is a win-win situation for all concerned - and I would urge other groups to think seriously about putting in applications for funding their own projects."

At the end of the evening Ian Trenholm, chief executive of the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough, will present all Youth Opportunity Fund groups with certificates congratulating them on their successful applications.

For more information on how to apply for funding - or on the criteria needed to become a YOF assessor - contact Danny Gomm on 01628 685856 or visit the WAMSTER website at www.wamster.org.uk.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough planning enforcement officers took swift action to protect pedestrians in Maidenhead town centre on Wednesday (8 July) when builders at 1 High Street, next to Chapel Arches, were driving cement mixers and other vehicles over the pavement without any measures in place to ensure the safety of pedestrians walking past.

The builders were previously advised to stop using the access, which did not have Windsor and Maidenhead council permission, but ignored the council's advice. On Wednesday a formal notice was served banning use of the access.

If the builders continue to use it they can be prosecuted, with a fine of up to £20,000 if convicted.

Cllr Alison Knight, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead planning and development, said: "We are pleased to see landowners investing in Maidenhead town centre and its future despite the recession, but we cannot allow builders to ignore planning rules, especially if residents, visitors and people working in the town are being put in danger. I hope the builders will now talk to the council about how the work can continue without putting people at risk."

In 2008 the borough's planning enforcement officers took formal action in around 40 cases requiring unauthorised uses of buildings or land to stop or buildings or works to be removed.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough is taking last resort action to reduce the risk of serious accidents in Windsor's Peascod Street with a new rising bollard that will stop illegal speeding traffic passing through the pedestrian zone.

The new improved Windsor and Maidenhead bollard - to be installed at Oxford Road East - will stop all traffic except buses and emergency vehicles every day between 11am and 4pm and between 8pm and 6am. Buses and emergency vehicles will be permitted at all times and deliveries to local shops will be allowed between 6 and 11am and between 4 and 8pm.

Windsor and Maidenhead Buses have been fitted with transponders that lower the bollard to allow them through. In the event of a problem the bollard, monitored by CCTV, can also be lowered remotely by contacting the council's control room.

The move follows concerns expressed by local councillors and shoppers and businesses in the lower end of the street where around 100 vehicles a day break the law by entering the pedestrian zone, causing a very real risk to pedestrians, obstructing buses and often blocking access to shops and offices.

A previous rising bollard, installed by the Windsor and Maidenhead council some years ago, was eventually removed after several incidents when cars, illegally tailgating buses to get into Peascod Street, were struck by the rising bollard. However, Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways and streetcare, said the new bollard was 'streets ahead' in design and technology and these incidents should now be a thing of the past.

He said: "Similar bollards are already operating successfully in places like Manchester, Luton and Aylesbury and we see no reason why Windsor should be any different.

"The council has no choice but to take action before someone is hurt or killed by cars driving illegally - sometimes at speed - through the pedestrianised area. Let's face it, if drivers were obeying the law we wouldn't have to install the bollard at all. Our top priority is the safety of people legally using the pedestrian zone and the bollard will be worth it if we can save one child being hurt by a car speeding through the zone."

Work on the installation of the Windsor and Maidenhead bollard is scheduled to start on Monday 20 July and it will mean that Oxford Road East will be closed for up to two weeks. The bus stop will temporarily move from Peascod Street to Charles Street and buses will be diverted. Bus operators have already been notified, as have local businesses.

Large yellow signs will be erected in the area to alert drivers to the operation of the new bollard, and community wardens will be in local streets handing out information flyers to ensure the message is communicated as widely as possible. Community wardens will also be out and about in the area for two weeks before and after the installation to give out information and make sure drivers are aware of the new bollard.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Rayner said: "We are giving people plenty of advance notice about the temporary diversion during the installation and about the operation of the bollard itself. We appreciate the roadworks will cause some temporary inconvenience to bus passengers but we will be doing our best to keep the closure as short as possible. We have been working with bus companies to make sure their passengers know about the temporary diversion."

Cycling is also prohibited in the pedestrian zone. Parking for Blue Badge holders is conveniently located at Alma Road, Alexandra Gardens and Victoria Street car parks.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough is calling on the government to outlaw wheel clamping and replace it with fines for motorists caught parking on private property.

The Windsor and Maidenhead borough has made the recommendation in response to a Home Office consultation on proposals to license vehicle immobilisation businesses operating in private car parks and on private land.

This issue was discussed at the Windsor and Maidenhead planning and environment overview and scrutiny panel meeting on Monday (6 July) and the report, with panel recommendations, will be submitted for approval by cabinet on Thursday 23 July.

Government proposals - which interested parties including local authorities have been invited to comment on - are a step in the right direction but do not go far enough, said Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways and streetcare.

The Home Office's preferred option is to require all businesses to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority and to comply with a compulsory code of practice. Currently only the individuals involved in clamping vehicles are required to be licensed.

Cllr Rayner said: "The Royal Borough does not clamp vehicles in its car parks and does not support the clamping of vehicles on private land. While we would support the Home Office's preferred option over the current situation, we believe this is an excellent opportunity to go much further.

"We want clamping to be banned completely in private car parks and replaced by a parking ticket-based scheme. This already happens in Scotland where the courts have ruled that clamping is akin to extortion and have effectively banned it altogether."

If clamping is replaced by a ticketing system then other Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough proposals include:
· allowing 28 days for payment of fines
· allowing vehicles to be towed if not removed within a reasonable time (two hours) after a ticket is issued
· the existing British Parking Association Code of Practice on the issuing of parking tickets be made compulsory.

If however the government does not ban clamping outright, but continues with its preferred option of business licensing and a compulsory code of practice, then the Windsor and Maidenhead borough would like to see:

· a minimum time of 30 minutes between immobilisation and removal
· strict requirements on size and visibility of signs
· a cap of £50 to £100 on clamping, towing and impounding fees
· a ban on double charging (charges for clamping and removal)
· a strict re-licensing requirement on phoenixing companies (companies that close down then re-start with the same staff and a slightly different name)
· a requirement for all licensed businesses to assume responsibility for equipment such as pay-and-display machines, irrespective of actual ownership - preventing such practices as clamping cars when the equipment is faulty or the time on the machine is out, and
· the continuation of an annual licensing period rather than the suggested move to a three-year period.

Windsor and Maidenhead Cllr Rayner added: "By introducing these measures residents and visitors will be better protected against possible abuses or intimidating behaviour, while the rights of landowners to take reasonable action to deter or prevent unwanted parking will be preserved.

"The council is totally opposed to clamping in private car parks, which can leave a bitter taste in the mouth of any resident or tourist who returns after an enjoyable trip into town to find their car clamped and a huge set of fees to be paid before they can get it back.

"We have addressed issues at a privately-owned car park in Windsor by placing notices nearby advising motorists that they could be clamped if they overstayed. However, we are limited in what we can do about a legal business practice, however unpopular and unfair people consider it.

"Local authorities have very little control over clamping on private property and can only ensure the clampers are operating within the law. We have no say in what they decide to charge and we cannot order them to pay back fees to drivers. Our officers investigate the aspects over which we do have control, such as making sure that signs are in place, prices are clear and that clampers have a contract in place to operate.

"We welcome this opportunity to have our say on potential future changes in the regulation of clamping and hope that the government will take on board our considered opinion that clamping should be stamped out altogether or at the very least that the permitted fees are drastically reduced."

Feedback on the consultation has to be returned to the Home Office before 23 July. The Royal Borough is writing to local MPs, town partnerships and business associations asking them to also respond. It is also urging residents and any other interested parties to make their views known.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 19 July - 25 July 2009
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

19th July in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Gordon Giltrap
* Film
* 3:00 pm
Good (15)
* 7:30 pm
Good (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Berkshire Yarns

20th July in Maidenhead

No events planned

21st July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 2:30 pm
Religulous (15)
* 8:00 pm
Religulous (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns

22nd July in Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns

23rd July in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 7:30 pm
Beachy Head
* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns

24th July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 10:30 am
State of Play (12A) - Parent and Baby screening
* 2:30 pm
State of Play (12A)
* 8:00 pm
State of Play (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns

25th July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 3:00 pm
State of Play (12A)
* 8:00 pm
State of Play (12A)
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Berkshire Yarns

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough is urging timeshare owners to be "extremely wary" of timeshare companies which appear to be offering attractive resale deals.

Following recent television coverage about the need for caution when dealing with such companies, Windsor and Maidenhead trading standards officers are this week advising residents to be aware of the following potential pitfalls:

* consumers are often cold-called by the timeshare company and persuaded to attend a presentation, having allegedly been led to believe a buyer is waiting to buy their timeshare
* companies will often request an advance fee be paid on the spot
* consumers wishing to cancel subsequently find it impossible to get a refund
* consumers are also often tempted with the offer of 'cashback certificates' for the same amount as the trade-in value of the timeshare, with the promise that money will be refundable after three years.

Cllr Phill Bicknell, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead public protection, said: "The Royal Borough works very closely with the Office of Fair Trading to determine the most effective means of investigation and consumer protection.

"We would urge residents to seek legal advice before contracting with any timeshare company - never agree or sign to anything without doing so."

Steve Johnson, Windsor and Maidenhead trading standards manager added: "Anyone who has paid money has a seven day cooling off period in which they can cancel contracts signed at the presentations. After that consumers are advised to contact their credit card company and request that any payments are reimbursed if they feel there has been any fraudulent misrepresentation."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough is to respond to residents' ongoing concerns about inconsiderate motorists by using new powers to fine drivers who park across dropped kerbs or double park in the street, causing problems for wheelchair users and parents with prams and buggies.

Under new rules coming into effect on Monday July 20 councils will have the power to fine motorists who block residents' driveways without the need for special signage or road markings as has previously been the case. Parking attendants will be able to issue penalty charge notices with fines of £70 reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways and streetcare, welcomed the move. He said: "This is really good news for all our residents, many of whom have told us of their frustration when they find cars parked across their driveways preventing them from getting in or out.

"And it is particularly welcome news for people in wheelchairs and parents with prams and buggies who rely on dropped kerbs to manoeuvre safely on and off pavements.

"Their lives can be made very difficult indeed by the actions of thoughtless motorists who park their cars wherever they like and cause huge inconvenience with their inconsiderate behaviour.

"The threat of a substantial fine will hopefully make motorists think twice about parking across residents' driveways, and also help to address the potentially dangerous practice of double parking in the street which can cause unnecessary obstruction and put all road users at risk."

Until now, the Trafffic Management Act 2004 meant that local authorities outside London could only enforce penalty charges for parking on dropped kerbs if there were special signs or road markings in place.

Local authorities across the country lobbied the government to remove this restriction and bring them into line with all the London boroughs.

For further information, contact Neil Walter, parking manager, on 01628 796485.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

The Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough has joined forces with Keep Britain Tidy to put the brakes on littering motorists.

The cWindsor and Maidenhead ouncil is taking part in a hard-hitting national campaign to tackle the problem of drivers and passengers throwing rubbish out of their vehicles.

The Highways Agency estimates that 700,000 bags of rubbish are collected from motorways and trunk roads every year.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead highways and streetcare, said: "When I stop at junctions or traffic lights in the Royal Borough I regularly see car occupants throwing their rubbish out of the window. These inconsiderate drivers and passengers turn our roadsides into an unsightly dumping ground of fast food litter, cigarette stubs, drinks cartons and apple cores.

"Littering from a car is an offence, and the council will not hesitate to prosecute offenders, but is difficult to police so this is a special plea to everyone using the road to put their litter in a bag and throw it in the bin when they reach their destination."

Nearly a quarter of people (23%) admit to dropping litter from their vehicle, according to latest Keep Britain Tidy research.

A month-long Windsor and Maidenhead campaign starting on Tuesday 7 July will see campaign advertising being displayed in the borough reminding motorists of their responsibilities.

People will also be asked to report incidents of littering from vehicles on the Keep Britain Tidy website www.keepbritaintidy.org. This information will go on a database and be used to analyse trends in littering from vehicles.

Phil Barton, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive, said: "Dropping litter from a car is disgusting and makes our roadsides look like a dumping ground. We want to encourage motorists and their passengers to take their litter home rather than hurling it on our roads."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough residents are invited to join in the fun and celebrations at the official opening of the Maidenhead Athletic Club (MAC) clubhouse at the new Braywick Park pavilion on Saturday 11 July.

The opening Windsor and Maidenhead ceremony takes place at 1pm when Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for adult and community services, says a few words and Christine Benning, England Athletics officer and 1984 Olympics finalist, cuts the ribbon to officially open the MAC clubhouse.

From 11am to 2pm there will be a bouncy castle and other children's amusements, and MAC officers and coaches will be available for membership and other enquiries.

Athletes, archers and footballers are already enjoying the benefits of the smart £950,000 pavilion, which encompasses the MAC clubhouse.

The Windsor and Maidenhead pavilion also provides storage for archery equipment and boasts eight grass football team changing rooms of which two are fully accessible for disabled athletes, changing facilities for teams using the three all-weather floodlit football pitches, two changing rooms for football referees, one fully accessible for disabled athletes, and a public toilet for park users.

The environmentally friendly building has a wood chip burner for heating and sun tube lighting in the roof to improve natural lighting in the rooms. The building costs were all covered by Section 106 developer contributions, while MAC contributed a £100,000 down payment to lease the clubhouse. This sum comprises £31,000 in grants from the council and the Prince's Trust and £69,000 raised by the club.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, said: "This is an impressive new building both in terms of usefulness to the sports players and in environmental terms.

"The opening celebrations will be a great opportunity for Maidonians to come along and see the facilities for themselves, enjoy the fun activities and maybe even sign up to one of the clubs."

Dave Dando, MAC chairman, added: "MAC this year celebrates its 125th anniversary and we are delighted that the delivery of this excellent facility can form part of our celebrations. It is the culmination of many years of planning, negotiation and fundraising and we are deeply indebted to those club officers, past and present, who worked so hard to make this happen. We are also very grateful to the Prince's Trust and the council for the grants received.

"Membership of the club has doubled in the last 10 years and we fully expect growth to continue. The new clubhouse and its facilities provide an essential base for managing this growth and serving the needs of current and future users.

"The club is also committed to working with the council and our fellow Braywick Sports Association members to further enhance facilities at Braywick and, in so doing, offer improved sports participation opportunity to all."

The pavilion forms part of continued investment in Braywick Park and follows the installation of a new play area and two new five-a-side all-weather pitches.

The dilapidated former MAC clubhouse is set to be demolished and the area landscaped.

Further work to the park over the next six months includes more benches, landscaping and a new sustainability trail. The park was recently submitted for Green Flag accreditation and results are expected in July.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough residents, shoppers and businesspeople have been invited to say what they think are the important features of the Windsor town centre and Eton conservation areas.

Following Windsor and Maidenhead council appraisals of both areas and the compilation of a list of the buildings, views and other factors considered important in maintaining the character of the areas, it's now over to the public to endorse the report or suggest additional features that they feel should be included.

The resulting information will be used when considering proposals for alterations or new development in these areas, as it will help potential developers understand the features that should be maintained and be used as a reference when planning decisions are made.

Cllr Alison Knight, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead planning and development, said: "We have set out what we think are the important factors in maintaining the character of these conservation areas. However, people who live in or use the areas are sure to have further insights so we would love to receive your feedback.

"By responding, residents and other interested parties can ensure those features that are considered locally important will be taken into consideration when planning decisions are made."

This is the first appraisal to be carried out within Windsor town centre, while in Eton the appraisal is a review of a 1996 document. The move is part of an ongoing programme to produce up-to-date appraisals for all 27 conservation areas in the borough, with seven having been adopted since May 2008.

The Windsor and Maidenhead appraisals also include a section setting out a conservation area management plan which is intended to summarise the actions the council will take in the next five years to ensure the character and appearance of each area is preserved or enhanced.

Both draft documents are available to view at Windsor, Eton and Maidenhead Libraries, the Town Hall in Maidenhead, York House in Windsor, and Eton Town Council offices, as well as at http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/pp_conservation_consultation_appraisals.htm.

In addition, two drop-in sessions will be held on Thursday 9 July at the Guildhall, Windsor, and Tuesday 14 July, at Eton Town Council offices, both between 4 and 8pm. Along with the appraisal documents there will be a small exhibition and conservation officers will be present to answer questions.

Any comments on the appraisals and management plans should be sent to planning.policy@RBWM.gov.uk to arrive by Monday 17 August.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead: 12 July - 18 July 2009
Altwood Road
Maidenhead
SL6 4PF
01628 788997

12th July in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 4:00 pm
Berkshire Maestros Gala Concert
* 7:00 pm
Berkshire Maestros Windsor Music Centre Pre-Tour Concert
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Berkshire Yarns

13th July in Maidenhead

No events planned

14th July in Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns
* 4:30 pm
Bollywood Dance

15th July in Maidenhead

* Film
* 2:30 pm
Fifty Dead Men Walking (15)
* 8:00 pm
Fifty Dead Men Walking (15)
* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns

16th July in Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns
* 6:15 pm
Tabla (Beginners)
* 6:45 pm
Tabla (Experienced)

17th July in Maidenhead

* Workshops and other events
* 2:00 pm
Berkshire Yarns

18th July in Maidenhead

* Performances
* 8:00 pm
Shappi Khorsandi
* Workshops and other events
* 10:00 am
Berkshire Yarns
* 10:00 am
Calligraphy Workshop

The results from the recent public consultation on future development in the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough are now available for public viewing - and highlight the continuing support for maintaining our Green Belt and a preference for higher density development.

The consultation, on the Local Development Framework (LDF) Options Paper, was carried out between March and May this year to enable the public to express their views about how the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough can best meet the government target of 6,920 new homes between 2006 and 2026.

The Windsor and Maidenhead report was considered at cabinet on Thursday 25 June and it was agreed that the findings of the consultation should now be taken into account in developing a strategy for the future development of the borough. This will now be carried forward as part of the LDF core strategy which will be presented to the government for independent examination during 2010.

The Options Paper set out a draft vision for the borough and key development management policies, and presented a number of objectives, in particular about density options for new development.

A total of Windsor and Maidenhead 2,163 people replied, 96% of them residents and the remainder from interested groups such as developers and parishes. Their responses revealed:

· a general agreement with the overall vision for the LDF and about the objectives and aims as set out in the Options Paper
· the importance of the Green Belt - 63.5% of respondents rated the Green Belt as of highest importance and a further 16.6% still felt its protection was important
· a general preference of respondents (47%) for higher density development in existing settlements, while taking local conditions into consideration
· a preference for development in small sites (56%) if greenfield land is required, again with provisos
· a preference for new businesses to be on land next to town centres or other existing employment areas (74%).

Cllr Alison Knight, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead planning and development, welcomed the results and said they would help to further firm up the development strategy for the borough.

She said: "Thank you to everyone who took the time to give their opinions. Your feedback will help to ensure the resulting strategy is improved as far as possible, bearing in mind the current government-imposed requirements."

The final drafting of the LDF core strategy will take place this autumn along with further public consultation. Subject to approval from the Secretary of State, the strategy is expected to be adopted in December 2010.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough adventurers from four to 12 years old are invited to join a special quest this summer - to read six books and reach the dragon's lair.

Starting on Saturday 11 July, Windsor and Maidenhead children can sign up as Quest Seekers at any one of the borough's libraries in the popular annual Summer Reading Challenge.

From then until Saturday 12 September the challenge is to read six books of their choice - and incentives to keep going include stickers, a dragon model, magic colour change pen and bookmark to be collected along the way. Every adventurer completing the quest will receive a medal and certificate.

Last year a record 2,026 children across the borough took part in - and 1,310 completed - the Summer Reading Challenge.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, said: "The Summer Reading Challenge is an exciting way of encouraging children to keep reading over the summer holidays and discover new books and authors.

"This year's theme sounds great fun and I really hope even more of our children will be inspired to become Quest Seekers and meet the challenge."

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Enjoying a good book is about to become even easier with the launch of a wider range of mobile library services in the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough.

Following a thorough Windsor and Maidenhead review last year - and taking ownership of a new, state-of-the-art vehicle - the council is introducing a number of improvements, including more than 40 extra public stops and a weekly full-day stay at Shifford Crescent in Cliveden View, Maidenhead for the container library.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, pointed out that as well as providing an essential service for residents who are housebound or have difficulty getting out and about, the mobile library is available to anyone who would like to use it.

He said: "The Royal Borough provides a thriving library service that is continually reviewed and updated to meet the requirements of residents of all ages. Following last year's review we consulted with the public and received a very high level of support for the proposed changes.

"By taking the library further into the community we are making it even easier for everyone to enjoy our wide range of regular, large print and audio books."

The extended mobile Windsor and Maidenhead library services, which start on Monday 6 July, will be:

* available to more residents - by combining homes and housebound stops with public stops, more than 40 additional public stops have been created
* more efficient - routes have been adjusted and the mobile library redirected to where customers want it
* more environmentally friendly - the new vehicle has a controlled emissions system
* more integrated - from September the vehicle's computer system will be networked, making it quicker and easier for mobile customers to obtain requests from any other library in the borough.

The new routes can be viewed at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries_mobile.htm, at the local libraries, or by calling mobile library supervisor Ralph Hinchliffe on 01628 796314.

Cliveden View residents will be able to enjoy an even wider range of books plus free internet access with the arrival of the container library next to the Shifford Crescent shops every Tuesday, starting Tuesday 28 July. The library, which is considerably larger than the mobile library and has a much larger stock, will be open from 10am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm.

To celebrate the launch a family fun session will be held on the green next to the shops from 10.30am to 12noon on 28 July.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead

Do you use your Windsor and Maidenhead public library - and if not, why not?

That's the question the Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Borough library service is asking local residents as part of a wide-ranging review of library services across the borough.

The review - the first since 2001 - will look at the service currently offered to library users and identify what it can do to improve and attract new customers.

Cllr Simon Dudley, lead member for Windsor and Maidenhead adult and community services, said this week: "We are very proud of our existing library service, but we have to ensure that we are giving residents what they want from their libraries so that we can attract even more users - and that's what this review is all about.

"We want you to help us make our service even more appealing and tell us what we can do to improve the facilities we offer.

"I would like to reassure people at the outset that this is not about reducing hours or closing libraries - we simply want to find out who uses the service and how we can improve it.

"The message is - this is your service and we want to hear your views. And it's not just the views of current users we are seeking - we would also like to hear from people who don't visit a library as to why they don't.

"So please make the most of this opportunity to have your say and help us give you what you really want from your library."

Windsor and Maidenhead Residents can take part in the review by:

• filling in a questionnaire available from their local library
• completing the questionnaire online at the Royal Borough website at www.rbwm.gov.uk/web/libraries_review.htm
• attending one of two public meetings on Tuesday 7 July in the Desborough Suite, Town Hall, Maidenhead from 6.30 - 8.30pm or the Council Chamber, Guildhall, High Street, Windsor on Thursday 9 July from 6.30 - 8.30pm. Refreshments will be available at both meetings and vouchers for two free DVD hires will also be on offer.

To reserve a seat at the Windsor and Maidenhead public meetings call 01189 626114 or email roland.kirby@ntlworld.com by Friday 3 July.

Following the consultation, a report and recommendations will be considered in the autumn.

For further information contact Mark Taylor, head of library, information, heritage and arts on 01628 796989.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead