News 2014

Following a competitive tender process, specialist water and environmental contractor Greenford Ltd has been appointed to build Stage 1 of the waterway - initially the section of York Stream between the A4/St Cloud Way and the GWR. Mobilisation planning is now underway and Greenford expect to start on site in late January

We have received a generous donation from Maidenhead based catering and refrigeration equipment maintenance firm McFarlane Telfer Ltd towards the project and hope to involve some of their staff in future volunteer events. The donation is much appreciated.

While contract arrangements for the Stage 1 build are concluded, Tree Removals for the next stage (Stage 2) are already underway. Tree surgeons from Legacy Habitats have already cleared the area needed for the Stafferton Way Link Road and are now working on the Stage 2 waterways route to the south of the railway tunnels on York Stream.

A packed AGM on 29th October heard a review of the year and next steps on the project and accepted the accounts for 2013/14. Trustees David Snelgar and Jon Reekie - standing down in rotation as required under MW's articles - were re-elected unopposed. Members and other guests then enjoyed refreshments after a lively Q and A session.

27 canoeists of all ages headed for the Widbrook on Saturday 13th September and had a fun morning exploring one of the key feeder channels to the town centre waterway that is being restored. Access has been improved by recent clearance work by MW to improve the flow rates.

Following RBWM Cabinet agreement to directly contract for the waterway works, enabling VAT recovery, tenders have been invited for the £2.1m Stage 1 build, with a (revised) target start on site of late October. Stage 1 is now fully scoped and targets the priority section between the A4 and GWR. Options to extend further north and south are also being invited, subject to funding headroom. 

After securing its detailed planning consent in June, the Shanly Group has now commenced site clearance and enabling works on the former cinema site at Chapel Arches.  Piling is planned to commence in August and the first phase of the redevelopment will include both sides of the [widened] York Stream channel, with new apartments, cafe/restaurants and public terraces overlooking the water.

MW Trustees recently hosted guided walks for Yr 5 Claires Court Girls school and also 4th Taplow & Hitchin guides.  Everyone enjoyed walking the route to observe the current stage of the project and to understand the changes beginning to unfold in Maidenhead town centre.  Furse Platt senior school Yr 8 received a presentation from MW before spending the entire day of 14th July studying  and visiting the area.

Congratulations to the over 50 volunteers who joined us on 27th April to clear the accumulated litter and other debris exposed by recent tree and scrub clearance for the start of Stage 1 build. Over 70 bags of rubbbish and many foreign objects were removed. Our thanks to Rotary, 19th Maidenhead Scouts and the Mosque, who joined us, and to RBWM for the loan of equipment and rubbish removal.  

Tree removals work has now started along the central York Stream area, clearing the trees that overhang the channel, or are growing in the bed, and removing the scrub that hides the banks which will be modified for the Stage 1 works due to start this summer. The tree work is being undertaken by Legacy Habitats UK and overseen by an ecologist from our detailed designers Golder Associates.

The drop-in event on 18th January at Maidenhead Library was well attended, with c200 residents, councillors and others viewing the project update and hearing about the tree removals programme taking place in February (before the nesting season) in order to allow Stage 1 of the consented plans to begin build in mid -2014. The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive. For those unable to join us, the slide set used can be viewed here Library Event Slide Show.