Anger at plans for coach park redevelopment
Windsor: Update on plans to redevelop coach and car park revealed at forum
The Royal Borough has earmarked Alexandra Gardens car park for redevelopment and seeks
a joint venture partner with 'vision' for site.
Plans to redevelop a major Windsor car park were revealed at a meeting this week – but opposition councillors have asked why it was revealed at the Maidenhead Town Forum.
The Royal Borough council wants to develop the Alexandra Gardens coach and car park in Alma Road.
The site is earmarked for a ‘mixed-use development’ of the two parking areas – which will be replaced - as well as the nearby Baths Island.
Wednesday’s meeting learned that the council is on the hunt for a joint-venture partner to help it move the project forward.
Barbara Richardson, managing director of the RWBM Property Company, also told the meeting that extensive consultation would be carried out with a chosen partner in the summer, in order to come up with a development
‘vision’ for Windsor.
“This is very hot off the press because we do not have a joint venture partner to take this one forward yet,” Ms Richardson said.
Following the meeting, opposition councillors in
Windsor expressed anger that these details were announced at a Maidenhead meeting, and also accused the plans of being kept secret behind confidential ‘part two’ stages of cabinet meetings.
“For it to be announced at the forum which is not even for Windsor residents – I think that was the wrong thing to do,” said Councillor Amy Tisi (Lib Dem, Clewer East).
“We have had some information that has been in part two of meetings and we have not been able to discuss it.
“There is still just a lot of secrecy. It [the development] just keeps popping up like whack-a-mole.”
Cllr Neil Knowles (OWRA, Old Windsor), added: “We only had the Windsor Town
Forum last week and it was not even mentioned.
“I am in no way saying Ms Richardson did anything wrong, somebody must have given her clearance. I just wish they would talk to people before doing stuff.”
Cllr Knowles also asked questions about where alternative parking would be provided. After the meeting, forum chairman Cllr David Coppinger (Con, Bray) confirmed that plans were discussed in part two of a cabinet meeting in April last year. This part of the meeting was closed to the public.
He added that this was not ‘new news’ having been announced about a year ago.
“At that time we said we were putting it back because of COVID, and it has now come back, because we are pulling out of COVID,” he said. “This is not a done deal. This is something that will be coming to part one of a cabinet meeting shortly.
“We will be working with residents, and opposition councillors, to agree what happens to that site.”
Cllr Coppinger added: “Nothing is being hidden from anyone. Ms Richardson wanted to share all the good news in terms of development, and although I was not expecting it, I think it was great that she did actually talk about Windsor.
“In hindsight, maybe she should have saved it for the Windsor meeting. I am assuming that we weren’t in a position at that meeting to discuss it.”