Car still most practical way of going from A-B

Recently I heard a vaccination organiser say that they were surprised that the 75 to 80 group, unlike the extremely elderly, arrived for their vaccinations mobile, and mostly driving their own cars.

This shows how younger people, and it seems the RBWM council, perceive older people.

Most retired people use a car, even if they live in the town centre, in order to visit friends and family and for sports clubs and activities and voluntary work.

Those who are unfortunately no longer mobile may need car park spaces for carers and other visitors.

The RBWM council seems to love the phrase that they ‘need to promote sustainable forms of transport’.

The trouble is that they do not and cannot let us know what other forms of transport are available.

Unless travelling to London, a car is the most practical way of going from A to B.

Perhaps an independent analysis survey of what residents require should be made.

My findings are that more parking spaces must be made.

In analysing the parking being made available at new development sites we have the following.

The new Nicholson’s Centre proposes

364 residential units and 104 car parking spaces, equivalent to 0.28 car space per residential unit

And 307 retirement units and 116 car parking spaces, equivalent to 0.37 car space per residential unit

At the Moorbridge Court and Liberty

House development 129 units and 66 car parking spaces, equivalent to 0.51 car space per residential unit

The Magnet Centre site proposes 439 flats and 350 car parking spaces, equivalent to 0.80 car space per residential unit

This is quite surprising so I wonder whether the car parking spaces include public spaces for the nearby doctors’ surgeries?

Last week’s Advertiser said that there will be only one parking space for every three retirement living apartments on the Nicholsons centre.

This is completely inadequate and for most of the flats being built in Maidenhead there has been inadequate parking, not only for the residents but also for the shoppers and commercial operators in Maidenhead.

Why is the RBWM allowing such a shortfall of parking needs?

BRUCE ADAMS Cox Green Lane

Maidenhead