Viewpoint: Public toilet concerns over new Maidenhead development

Toilets in Nicholsons Centre are well used

I strongly support Andrew Ingram’s call (Viewpoint, June 13) for public toilets to be provided as part of the town centre redevelopment.

The current ones in the Nicholsons Centre are well used and not just by older people.

Babies and older children plus visitors to the town from London using the Elizabeth line are among others who need these facilities.

Windsor has plenty of RBWM owned/run toilets.

Surely Maidenhead merits some permanent provision.

And temporary ones need to be available during the redevelopment period.

J POWELL

Maidenhead

Lack of nightlife is no different to other towns

As someone who travels all over the country for fun, I can assure Alexander Cobb (Viewpoint, June 13) that Maidenhead is no different to any other town in the UK.

Busy during the day and deserted by 8pm.

Mentioned are Reading, Bristol, Manchester and Brighton as examples of how things could be.

However, all of these places are cities so cannot be compared to Maidenhead town.

Windsor was also mentioned which is not a city, but it is equally as quiet as Maidenhead in the evening with the exception of two pubs by the river during the summer.

I am yet to be convinced that there is a need, or a desire by residents, for Maidenhead to have a thriving nightlife.

I do agree with Alexander about Norden Farm.

We are very lucky to have such a wonderful venue hosting such a diverse range of events.

Maidenhead does quite well to keep going until 8pm.

Most towns in the North East and North West are deserted by 6:30pm.

VINCE WYRE

Maidenhead

Time to put sorry film studios saga to bed

In the light of the ministerial decision to uphold the rejection of the Studio development at Holyport, The Marlow Society believes it is now time to put the sorry saga of the Marlow Film Studios to bed.

The decision at Holyport that the development would have a ‘very significantly adverse impact on the countryside’ runs in parallel with the real threat to obliterate the greenbelt between Marlow and Little Marlow.

The second reason given to reject the Holyport development focuses on the spurious case for a demand for studios in London and the South East – the Minister stating that Holyport studios ‘would simply displace film making and the associated economic benefits from other studios’.

Surely, the recent failure of studio projects in Winnersh and Booker is testament to this fact.

One more point that is worth making – the traffic volumes on the A404 are already at capacity – one small accident on the M40, for example, frequently leads to miles of queues on the A404.

Any development on land at the proposed site would make life intolerable for Marlow residents and businesses that need to rely on good communications.

We look forward to the inspector’s report on Marlow Film Studios. Time to move on!

ANDREW WOOD

RICHARD PARKER

Co-Chairs

The Marlow Society

Thank you to organisers of Waterways event

A big thanks to all of those involved in the Waterways event on Saturday, June 14.

We had great fun canoeing all the way from Blackamoor, under the Colonnade, past Lidl to the weir and back.

We even got a free lesson which helped immensely.

On a beautiful, sunny day this was a most enjoyable experience, sharing the water with people of all ages and abilities, viewing nature and wildlife away from the hubbub of town.

Well done to all who gave their time and effort for this free event to take place.

The Waterways is a true asset for Maidenhead and deserves all the support the council and local businesses can afford to provide.

We're looking forward to the next event.

DAVID AND BETH OSBORNE

Gringer Hill

Maidenhead

Boring, boring England fail to move forward

I’m not an expert football tactician by any means, nor for that matter an overpaid player or manager scratching their heads after a poor result – or should I say results!

The main problem, which was especially evident against Senegal last Tuesday and only a little less so against the minnows of Andorra three days previously, is this obsession with square slow sideways passing and frequent back passes back to the goalie whilst under no threat whatsoever.

I’m under the impression that in football, or for that matter any other sport which has goalposts with or without nets (football, rugby, hockey etc) share a common denominator of actually attacking the opposing end!

Against Andorra England played sideways albeit high up the pitch, and on the odd occasion Andorra did get the ball, they broke and nearly scored!

In the Senegal game we witnessed the same aimlessness even late on and England supposedly chasing the game.

Admittedly the ruling out of the England equaliser was unjust and had it stood, it may well have resulted in an underwhelming and undeserved draw for the home side.

Qualification for next year’s World Cup is far from assured – keep playing like this and we’ll have a quiet summer next year!

TONY BECK

Frogmill Spinney

Hurley