Viewpoint: Doubts over Nicholson Quarter comments

How many visitors to town are meandering?

Mr Robinson of Areli, the developer of Nicholsons Centre, dismissed fears raised over the lack of town-centre car parking spaces with the priceless comment, ‘if they meander their way through from Hines Meadow, through the Waterside Quarter or through the High Street...’ (Advertiser, July 18). ‘

I can assure Mr Robinson that I, and I know many others, will not be ‘meandering’ anywhere in Maidenhead. There is a set purpose in visiting Maidenhead and that is to park for as short a time as possible in a town centre car park, carry out whatever business is the reason for the visit and then leave.

DIANE HAYES

Hearne Drive

Holyport

It isn’t a three-minute walk for everyone

So, in last week’s Tiser, Mr Robinson from Areli wants us to meander to the town from Hines Meadow car park, because it’s only a three-minute walk.

Tell that to mums with pushchairs and shopping bags, or older folks that don’t have a blue badge.

Although it might be nice to wander along the Waterside Quarter, maybe stop for tea and buns, or a swift half in the Bear, fortunately, most of us live on planet Earth and the fact is that car park spaces don’t make money and flats do.

But I’m sure with the right amount of convincing this plan will go through regardless of what the residents want, because flats don’t only make money when you sell them, they also make money for the council via council tax.

KEITH CHAPMAN

Cornwall Close

Maidenhead

Can we spend a penny in £500million scheme?

Has any thought been given to the provision of toilets in the £500m redevelopment of the Nicholsons Centre?

KATHRYN MINTER

Wootton Way

Maidenhead

Project was initiated under Dudley’s watch

Simon Dudley (former Tory leader of RBWM) wrote last week about the A308 Holyport junction improvements (Viewpoint, July 18).

Mr Dudley told us the junction replacement: wasn’t needed, was a waste of taxpayers’ money, it didn’t matter that it was central government money and that the money should be used to pay off council debt.

Mr Dudley surely knows this central government grant can’t be used to pay off the Tory debts?

Mr Dudley must think residents are fools.

The need for the Holyport Junction improvements were identified in 2017, as part of the South West Maidenhead developments (inc Maidenhead Golf Course) in the BLP, passed when Mr Dudley was council leader.

The central government money was applied for in 2018, when Mr Dudley was council leader.

The bid was put forward to central government by the Berkshire Local Transport Body, on RBWM’s behalf, in January 2019 when Mr Dudley was council leader.

The grant funding for the project was awarded in August 2020 under the Conservatives, but after Mr Dudley resigned from the council, overnight, during the Lingard inquiry.

In November 2022 Conservatives at RBWM issued an updated scoping document including the Holyport junction remodelling.

Finally in February and March 2023 the Conservatives consulted on their proposal to put traffic lights at the Holyport junction.

In May 2023, the Royal Borough voted for a new council.

In October 2023 the new cabinet was presented with feedback from consultation which favoured a roundabout

over the Conservative proposal for traffic lights.

Mr Dudley finally describes the roundabout as an unnecessary vanity project.

I do not agree, however it is a project which was initiated under the Conservatives and Mr Dudley.

Once again the Conservatives demonstrate they simply didn’t know what they were doing when they were in charge at RBWM.

Cllr RICHARD COE

Lib Dem, Riverside

Residents will judge ‘fabulous outcome’

Serious concerns are being raised about RBWM’s replacement roundabout on the Maidenhead Road at Holyport.

It is unclear how it will accommodate increased traffic volumes and improve safety for pedestrians and motorists.

Questions are also being asked about the £1.3million bill for the replacement roundabout and the time taken to complete the project.

RBWM’s lead member for highways responds that that the replacement roundabout is ‘impressive’ and is a ‘fabulous outcome’.

Your readers will be the judge of that, but questions will remain over this costly scheme and whether it will serve the needs of current and future residents.

I do hope that the replacement roundabout works, but I would also hope that RBWM learns the lessons of this project and holds councillors and managers to account for this costly and badly executed scheme.

Now that would be a ‘fabulous outcome’ for residents!

ED WILSON

Bryer Place

Windsor

Work to solve Green Way flooding problems

As noted in the Advertiser, work is being done to solve the problem of leaks onto the Green Way path as it passes under the A4 bridge.

The Green Way, now 40 years old, was our joint project with East Berks Ramblers and we continue to take an interest in it.

Water leaks onto the path through the brick wall and bubbles up through gaps in the adjacent path. In the past water has been pumped away so that the path was usable though next to the brick wall it remained damp. When the electricity supply to the pump was switched off pumping ceased and the path flooded.

Unfortunately, shortly after supply was reconnected the pump again stopped working .

According to Excel Pumps the work, now completed, involved installing a new hose from the sump to the top discharge pit, as instructed by RBWM, after it was dug out by another contractor, then backfilling the hole.

A few days later a new pump was fitted.

On July 16, the footway was still closed off but the path was dry except for the dampness at the north end due to leakage through the brick wall etc.

At the request of the Maidenhead Waterways Partnership Group the Civic Society contacted VirginMediaO2 (VMO2) to find out whether the cable buried in the stream bed in 1992 (and the reason for that section of the path having a brick rather than a concrete flood wall), was still live. They plan to investigate once the path is dry.

Depending on the result, a plan of action will be needed to solve this longstanding problem.

ANN DARRACOTT

Maidenhead Civic Society

Crunching numbers on over-65s and the NHS

In 2016, Michael Gove delivered the infamous declaration, ‘I think the people of this country have had enough of experts’ as he sought to sell leaving the EU to the electorate.

Similarly Keith Chapman (Viewpoint, July 18) seems to have had enough of facts.

Approximately 80 per cent of the population is aged under 65, and the NHS spend on this segment is 57 per cent of the NHS budget. The remaining 20 per cent, 65 years old and above (including Keith, who, from memory, is in his early 70s) take 43 per cent of the budget.

This is to be expected as aging introduces both chronic illnesses and comorbidities.

With an approximate NHS budget this year of £200billion this indicates that just 20 per cent of the population cost £86,000,000,000.

Add to this free prescriptions and for many, a state pension of £11,000 upon reaching the right age and the financial costs become evident.

Indeed, Keith himself gives the game away when he explains his recent experiences.

He's visited his doctor on at least three occasions at a cost of approximately £111, and been the only person in the waiting room (so no cheeky Johnny-come-latelies clogging up the system), had 'some tests' at Heatherwood and been along to A&E at Wexham, where he may have been researching how many people were English; quite difficult to judge, unless he bases it on skin colour, a very inaccurate method as many nationalities contributing to the economy are white but not English.

He does mention being in a minority of white English. Should that confer special status?

Meanwhile at Heatherwood and many other Frimley hospitals, well over 60 per cent of the staff were not born in the UK.

Thank goodness they're doing their best to look after us all.

JAMES AIDAN

Sutton Road

Cookham

Government’s duty to protect our borders

It is the Government’s duty to protect our borders. That is why we have passports, visas etc to stop illegal immigration.

A nation who fails to do this begins to lose its nationhood.

Cllr LEO WALTERS

Con, Bray

Unjustified charges will make diners think twice

An article appeared in The Mail on Sunday clearly identifying that the near compulsory tipping culture has come to the UK and more specifically now to pubs, bars, coffee shops and restaurants in the Maidenhead area.

Why do these establishments believe it is their right to add a service charge (which is stated as discretionary) when in some cases it is food ordered at the bar and delivered to a table where there is no offer of a napkin, table cloth or bread?

What is the added service to the paid for food which has increased massively in price in the last year or so? Do these establishments pay their staff so little that they are making up a living wage by adding these charges?

The cost of a burger and fries priced at £17 – 19.50 with a 10 per cent (discretionary service charge) can cost you up to £21.45p.

Now I am not mean and do reward service (at my discretion) if delivered by friendly attentive staff but I am now thinking that I will request the removal of these charges that are not added in any European countries I have visited with the exception of Italy, where a small couple of Euros is added for bread and napkins.

The hospitality industry tells us they are under pressure but these charges are going to make people think twice about eating or drinking in the area.

I am regularly seeing added service charges of: 10, 11 and 12.5 per cent.

Owners just be real about your costs upfront not by adding inappropriate and unjustified service charges.

Da Luca Italian restaurant in Marlow Bottom should be commended as they add no service charges!

GRAHAM PEDERSEN

Lowbrook Drive

Maidenhead

A Tesla tune as Musk friendship turns sour

Last year, a certain Presidential candidate – later President – and Mr X-Man seemed inseparable and one of them became the proud owner of a certain make of electric car.

However, ‘a week is a long time in politics’ and some of us are familiar with a song called, ‘Love is Pleasing’, which says,

‘And the hottest love is the soonest cold...’.

Now, I offer the following for your small ads page, and a song to the tune, ‘O’Rafferty’s Motor Car’:

“Tesla car for sale: left-hand drive. One careless owner.”

‘The President's Motor Car’

Donny the President's motor car

Was a stunt for all to see.

I'll give you a job, 'cos you're my best mate

And you'll do the same for me.

Before the World, I'll sing your praise

And spread your glory far:

But now I see you've lost your mind,

I'll sell your rubbish car!

JAY FLYNN

Moneyrow Green

Holyport