Work began for Magnet homes
As another month arrived, discussion continued to focus on a car park closure and its impact on Maidenhead’s town centre.
Former council leader Andrew Johnson declared his intention to tear down Broadway car park ‘at the earliest opportunity’ in a bid to end uncertainty over the site’s future.
The closure of the key town centre car park inflicted significant disruption on town centre businesses at the start of 2023.
By March, the Conservative council leader said the local authority had little option but to demolish the crumbling structure as he admitted carrying out expensive repair works would be a ‘colossal waste of money’.
Businesses continued to vent their frustration though, with Nicholsonsbased Crazy About Framing placing a sign in its shop window titled ‘Vacancy – customers needed’.
Maidenhead’s regeneration was gathering pace in other areas of the town centre as construction work got underway at the former Magnet Leisure Centre site.
With much of the Magnet’s demolition completed, developer Countryside embarked on building the 434 homes planned in the £150million scheme.
The El Cerdo tapas bar became the latest eatery to open at Shanly’s Waterside Quarter with the venue promising diners a ‘true taste of Spain’.
Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood was among the guests as Magenta Gym held an open day to celebrate its major refurbishment at Maidenhead Rugby Club.
Elsewhere, there we plenty of political rows. Mr Johnson said he was requesting an ‘urgent meeting’ with a Government minister to ask for more flexibility in the number of houses that would need to be built in the borough as part of its local plan.
But opponents claimed this move was ‘blatant electioneering’ with the local elections just two months away.
Across the divide, Lib Dem councillor John Baldwin was formally censured for ‘bullying and disrespectful’ behaviour in a row with the council leader.
After being found to have breached the code of conduct, Mr Baldwin hit out at the Tories, accusing them of a ‘personal and political vendetta’.
The critical issue of water safety was raised as an inquest concluded into the death of 16-year-old Sean Norbert Anyanwu.
Cox Green student Sean drowned after getting difficulty in the water on July
18, 2022.
Berkshire’s senior coroner, Heidi J Connor, said there was ‘no blame to be considered’ for the tragedy.
The inquest heard about the steps being taken by organisations including the Royal Borough to prevent similar incidents.