The WLR is a major project being proposed by Conservative Councillor, and property developer, George Bathurst.
The project in its current form seeks to join up the Slough railway line with the Waterloo line by tunnelling along the riverside under Windsor, and building a new underground station, possibly in the Goswells (which is National Trust land managed by RBWM).
Phase 2 of Cllr Bathurst’s project is currently set to try to connect the Waterloo line with Heathrow airport, so will no doubt need their support.
Now I use the phrase the “current proposals” because at the moment we have only had sight of drawings by the Princes Foundation, and the WLR’s vision document. Actual, detailed proposals are yet to be published, so Cllr Bathurst could amend any of the proposals, for better or worse for Windsor.
the biggest development Windsor has seen since the castle was built
The project in its current form also seeks to create a new underground car park in Alexandra Gardens, creating a new exit from the Relief Road along the river to the new car park, uprooting the trees in the park, and building a row of exclusive river facing executive houses on Alexandra Park, and also near Riverside Station.
a huge construction site stretching along the river from Clewer Village to Datchet
The project would be the biggest development Windsor has seen since the castle was built, and the town would become a huge construction site stretching along the river from Clewer Village to Datchet. Please see the map above for details of the affected area.
Windsor’s economy and life could be paralysed for 2 to 3 years
Windsor’s economy and life could be paralysed for 2 to 3 years, during the construction period as work is undertaken on, or underneath, the Relief Road, Arthur Road, Goswell Road, Thames Avenue, and King Edward VII Avenue.
With many roads closed, all visitors into Windsor will have to come in from Maidenhead and Old Windsor, on roads that aren’t up to the task even now.
The train line to Slough will close, and the route to Waterloo is likely to start and end in Datchet, at a time when the main road to Datchet will also close!
Windsor could lose all its rail links, and also two of the four major routes into the town, for up to three years
So Windsor could lose all its rail links, and also two of the four major routes into the town, for up to three years.
With train and road traffic into, out of, and around Windsor severely disrupted, permanent gridlock could ensue, resulting in a fall in tourism, and decimation of the day and night time economies, and possibly employers leaving Windsor.
Windsor will be brought to its knees, and it may never recover
Windsor will be brought to its knees, and it may never recover, or take a decade to recover.
Ask yourself
Do you, Windsorians, really want to risk economic desolation for a potential 10 minute reduction in the train journey to Waterloo?
A call for a public debate, and full details to be revealed
I’d like to see the detail of the traffic management programme proposed by the developer.
If RBWM consider that Cllr Bathurst’s proposal could be viable it should make provision for the WLR in the Borough Local Plan. The Borough will then have to thoroughly analyse all the possible outcomes, including giving away taxpayers land to Cllr Bathurst for property development, and report back to residents.
willow-the-wisp project
Once included in the Local Plan, the WLR proposal can be openly discussed, and more importantly local residents can vote for or against it with all the evidence at hand. This willow-the-wisp project will then be above board, and seen to be above board.
all Windsorians should be allowed to vote on this development
Windsor residents need an open debate, with all the issues discussed clearly, openly, and without any spin. Then all Windsorians should be allowed to vote on this development that will prove an inflexion point, for better or for worse, for the history of the town.
I call on Cllr Bathurst to reveal the project in full detail, for RBWM to declare their intentions towards the plan with all transparency, and for there to be an open debate in the press.
The WWRA will continue to act in your interest, and monitor the situation. We will post updates here at www.wwra.org.uk
Windsor could lose all its rail links, and also two of the four major routes into the town, for up to three years
