Windsor’s poor pavements are inflicting immobility and ill health on residents. WWRA Councillors want Windsor to come alive for Windsorians. Working with senior RBWM officers, we are proposing that some of the £3.97m windfall budget be used to improve a network of pavements, install 9 crossings and amenable drop kerbs in two phases and, separately also increase enforcement and bus services.
Windsorians unnecessarily forced to struggle
Windsorians have been forced to suffer needlessly due to unnecessarily poor road and pavement maintenance and an absolute lack of vision of care for us by a Maidenhead-centric council.
Windsor residents struggle to walk on poor pavements full of trip hazards, with few safe crossing points and few drop kerbs to allow young mums with children, people loaded with shopping, and the older and infirm to walk easily from home, to school, to shops, to services, to GP and back again.
There are few crossing points along key roads to help people cross safely rather, they have to run the gauntlet of fast cars and lorries, on unsighted bends with high and difficult kerbs to also worry about.
Add to that the issue of inconsiderately parked vehicles, with little enforcement, and residents feel beleaguered, oppressed and forcibly marooned at home.
This is not a small issue. It’s big. Hundreds of people have to walk in pain and risk falling due to uneven, poorly repaired pavements.
They then have to walk around badly parked cars, often idling and polluting the atmosphere, so pedestrians have to drop down off high kerbs into the road, taking life and limb, children and shopping in hand.
And where is the parking enforcement? The Police are busy with other issues so, it’s down to RBWM to create a safe environment.
It becomes a mission too far for the more vulnerable in our communities who then just stay at home, increasing their isolation, prompting mental health issues, and preventing the from contributing valuably to society.
RBWM’s appalling pavements are forcing a grim, dull, and lifeless experience on Windsorians.
It’s not good enough.
WWRA Windsor Walkways Proposal
We are proposing the establishment of green Windsor Walkways to improve the quality of Windsor Pavements and the mobility of busy, beleaguered and also infirm residents.
- Windsor Walkways will ensure, in 2 phases of implementation that;
- Main pavements are level and easily negotiable, with Drop kerbs are installed strategically for users of pushchairs, trolleys, and mobility vehicles, and children can step into the road more securely and
- Key new crossing points at sites of convenience to improve safety
- Windsor Walkways Phase 1 will include
- Levelling pavements on Ruddlesway, Gallys Road, Smiths Lane, Vale Road, Wolf Lane and, Dedworth Road up to LidlInstalling crossing points outside The Willows, on Ruddlesway, Smiths Lane (already in progress), Vale Road, Wolf Lane, and outside the Post Office and shops near Esso on the Dedworth Road
- Installing safe drop kerbs at strategic points on Ruddlesway, Gallys Road, Smiths Lane, Vale Road, Wolf Lane
- Windsor Walkways Phase 2 will include
- Levelling pavements on Clewer Hill Road and Maidenhead Road
- Installing crossing points outside the schools on Parsonage Lane and Hatch Lane
- Installing safe drop kerbs at strategic points on Parsonage Lane and Hatch Lane
Windsor Walkways benefits for your
Windsor Walkways will bring great benefits for the vibrancy of residents, our communities, local businesses, our atmosphere, our Council and the environment.
This will enable residents young and old to get from home to shops to schools to medical services, to places of worship and home again.
This will free people, and encourage them to walk or cycle, to become healthier, and happier as they meet their neighbours and feel safer as the community gets to know each other.
It will also allow residents to reduce their Carbon footprint and reduce their cost of car usage and also help the Borough reduce its Carbon emissions and improve the health and well-being of Windsor residents, young and old. This will also improve learning abilities, and the mental health of future generations – that is our children and grandchildren we are speaking about. so this is personal.
You can read our full list of WWRA 2023/24 Budget Proposals in our article entitled, “What Windsor residents are talking about – WWRA Plans For Windsor” – Article available from Wednesday 15th February 2023.
Walking with you,
Carole & Wisdom
Cllr. Carole Ann Da Costa & Cllr. Wisdom Da Costa
Clewer & Dedworth East & Clewer & Dedworth West
West Windsor Residents Association
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