Jim Taylor The future is up for grabs

Home Thoughts From Abroad: Oh to be in Maidenhead now that April’s here…except for once, I’m not! For the first time since before Covid, the family have fled to the sunny Caribbean.

It’s a long, long time since I filed copy from poolside, underneath a palm tree. Back when I was paid to do this stuff, it always seemed so glamorous to be Our Man in some far-flung place.

In reality, it was usually incredibly stressful, chasing down stories in foreign lands while always keeping your watch on London-time to be in tune with the everchanging demands of newsdesks back home.

The perks of an odd rum punch or two still remain – although sadly, no longer, on expenses – but Advertiser deadlines need to be met, so I must stop watching pelicans diving for their fish suppers and turn my attention on our local politicians instead.

With District Council elections coming up in May, there is a bit of a feeding frenzy for attention from all sides right now. Polling cards were delivered last week and I read that more than 130 candidates have chucked their hats into the ring.

I am full of admiration for all who stand for election, who are prepared to give their time and put themselves in the public spotlight. They all want to make a difference – even if they have to take the flak as well.

Sadly, turn-out for local elections is never that high… which perhaps doesn’t say much for our belief in democracy. Or, that people just prefer to moan about it later.

But, this election feels really important to me. So, make a difference, Go Out And Vote for whatever party you support… because Maidenhead is standing at the crossroads.

You don’t have to look far on Facebook groups to get opinions of what folk think about our town centre regeneration. Up to very recently they haven’t been what I’d call complimentary.

For every fab review of a bowl of pasta in Sauce And Flour, there are less thumbsup likes for the look of The Landing and the fate of the closed down Broadway car park.

Let’s be honest, all councils have to deal with pot-holes, broken sewers and closed roads (although not always at the same time), but we have bigger issues to deliver our vote on, right here, right now.

For me, the future of Maidenhead’s Golf Course and the protection of our greenbelt trumps the Nicholson Walk CPO and finding a fitting new home for Smokey Joe’s, with its late-night licence and smoking area intact.

With all due respect to public consultation, developers’ computergenerated sales pitches or neighbourhood forums… this is the only opportunity for us to have our say about the future of our town.

It’s right for us to scrutinise the currently Conservative-controlled Council’s bank balance and budgets, and to ask questions about who really cares about St Mark’s Hospital, social care, crime and safety and emptying the bins.

It’s also right to ask all the Opposition parties whether they have viable alternatives and are fit to govern the Royal Borough – or if they just like opposing!

Either way, the future of our town is up for grabs – so get out and vote on May 6, and don’t forget your ID! Right, signing off, time for a swim.