Thousands respond to consultation on proposed walking and cycling schemes
Thousands of residents have responded to a consultation around proposed cycling and walking improvements in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
It asked for feedback on:
- Two low traffic neighbourhoods in West Windsor.
- School streets near local schools in Ascot, Maidenhead and Windsor.
- A bus gate on Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead.
A total of 2,221 responses were received on the idea of low traffic neighbourhoods, with about 90% opposed to the proposals.
The proposed bus gate attracted 2,225 responses, of which 95% of respondents disagreed with the plans.
Both of these schemes will therefore not be taken forward.
Councillor Gerry Clark, cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said: "I am delighted that residents in their thousands have engaged with the latest infrastructure consultation.
“The consultation has done its job and we have listened. It is clear from the results that residents are against the bus gate and the low traffic neighbourhood proposals and therefore these schemes will not be progressed.”
The school streets proposals each received between 30 and 300 responses, which showed mixed support.
The majority of respondents supported the schemes proposed for Boyne Hill Infant and Nursery School and Larchfield Primary and Nursery School.
The council will now engage with these schools to determine the most appropriate way forward and determine whether this can be delivered through the available funding.
Other school streets proposals were not supported, including those for Trevelyan Middle School in Windsor, South Ascot Village Primary School and Lowbrook Academy, Newlands Girls’ School and Wessex Primary School in Maidenhead.
The four-week consultation was run entirely online because of the current lockdown restrictions and used social media campaigns and digital “town hall” meetings to help explain the schemes and allow residents to ask questions.
Cllr Clark said: “COVID-19 has demanded that we seek innovative new methods of consulting and the huge response to this consultation shows a real appetite from local residents to be involved in the planning of future infrastructure in the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
"All responses will be analysed and we will consider some of the genuinely innovative alternative suggestions that have been put forward.
“When designing these schemes, we prioritise what will support residents' lives; what will support new house building; what will help meet our commitments to tackling climate change, and what will help support our local economy recovery post-COVID.”
Cllr Clark added: “The council is committed to public consultation and values the thoughts and views of our residents. When designing major infrastructure improvements, the council is focused on improving residents’ lives, whether that be supporting new homes, supporting efforts to decarbonise or helping out our local economy recover post COVID-19.
“We will be looking to hold more consultation events in the future using both digital and traditional methods to ensure that everyone has their say, and to engage with more residents on the crucial issue of infrastructure.”
The council was awarded a grant of £335,000 from the second round of funding from the Government’s Active Travel Fund, announced in November, for schemes which could meet strict Government criteria.