The bold new plan to transform Maidenhead into a ‘greener, more pedestrian’ town
A bold new strategy to renovate Maidenhead includes plans to ‘reinvent the ring roads’ and make the city center greener.
The “Maidenhead Vision Charter” was adopted by city councilors as a guide to what it might look like as a place to live and work over the next 15-20 years.
The council hopes it will turn the town into a “thriving community on the Thames” and has commissioned JTP Architects to draft the document.
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Some of the themes of their report include:
- “Reconfigure” Maidenhead to a pedestrianized town, with reduced cars and traffic jams. This involves in particular “reinventing” the ring roads by developing a strategy
- Develop a strategy to ‘radically green’ Maidenhead by enhancing biodiversity with green roofs and walls, as well as introducing a tree strategy to support ‘green links’
- Improve the digital connection, notably by potentially developing an app for the city that advertises and provides information for events
- Create an even more diverse and thriving mix of community, cultural and artistic events, festivals and activities in the city
- Develop a strategy to explore potential improved sustainable transport links south of the railway line, particularly on the existing towpath along York Creek, and the potential new road to the south, under the railway bridge
- Develop and implement a ‘travel strategy’, which includes a parking strategy, improved public transport links, and improved walking and cycling routes
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In the wake of Covid-19, the report says these themes will help “steer the course” towards post-pandemic economic recovery for the city and its businesses.
A Maidenhead Town team will be set up, made up of two councilors – including one member of the opposition – an executive director of the council and five independent members.
Once this team is established with a president, who will be an independent member, they will set out to engage with each community group and society “to ensure that everyone has a say” in the future of the city.
The head of the Royal Borough of Windsor and the Maidenhead Council, Andrew Johnson, said: “This marks the start of a truly transformative era for Maidenhead in the city which is on the verge of raising at least three billion pounds in investments.
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“[It] has already achieved national significance as a city setting the blueprint for the future of Main Street and retail stores through the Nicholson neighborhood developments and I believe this is also the city that continues to see investment very important foreigners in terms of people looking to move here from a commercial point of view but also from a residential point of view.
Maidenhead senior member Cllr David Coppinger said this vision will start in Maidenhead, but other areas, such as Windsor, may develop their own vision charts “in due course”.
This was heard at a cabinet meeting on Thursday May 27.