Slough council leader calls Destination Farnham Road plans 'a great regeneration opportunity'

The leader of Slough council called a major scheme to transform the Farnham Road area 'a great regeneration opportunity' as councillors discussed updated plans this week. 

On Monday evening, cabinet members were presented with updated plans for the £9.2million Destination Farnham Road scheme which looks to make major changes to the layout and appearance of the area. 

At the meeting, Cllr Wal Chahal (Con, Langley Marish) said the scheme involved performing ‘major surgery on an artery of Slough’ and said he was keen to for officers to provide councillors will updates on a three-monthly basis of how the work was progressing. 

The project, which was praised by councillors at the meeting, covers the A355 Farnham Road from its junction with Cumberland Avenue to its junction with the A4 Bath Road, with most of the works centred around the shops between Cumberland Avenue and Sheffield Road. 

A public consultation on the plans ran from the end of last year until early February and garnered 481 responses. 

But while there were hundreds of responses to the consultation, at the meeting Cllr Fiza Matloob (Lab & Co-Op, Baylis & Salt Hill) said something needed to be done to improve communication to get a ‘much greater input from residents’. 

Some of the features in the updated plans include wider footways for cafes and other food outlets for outside eating, echelon parking bays to boost the number of parking spaces, and new parking enforcement/restrictions.

Farnham ward councillors Waqas Sabah (Labour) and Sabia Akram (Labour & Co-Op) also raised concerns from residents and suggested points and changes they wanted officers to consider prior to finalising the scheme. 

Cllr Sabah called for Montrose Avenue to be turned into a one-way street due to current difficulties with drivers passing through and said the side roads off Farnham Road, including Hampshire Avenue and Essex Avenue, should also be a focused on as part of the scheme as they will also be impacted by the new works. 

He also raised concerns over the lack of parking enforcement in the area and said consideration should be given in the scheme to those who are disabled, ensuring that street furniture such as benches is not causing an obstruction and making it difficult for people to pass by. 

“In terms of looking at the materials that's going to be used, we should be looking at something that's a bit more sustainable and long term and easier to maintain, not just something that looks aesthetically pleasing.”

Concerns over anti-social behaviour in public open spaces and wider pedestrianised areas have also been raised by residents, Cllr Matloob added.

Savio DeCruz, associate director of operations said the team will be considering where to put street furniture so it doesn’t obstruct footpaths or lead to anti-social behaviour – an aspect the council will also focusing on alongside enforcement.

Council Leader Dexter Smith (Con, Colnbrook and Poyle) said the council hopes to have the works completed by July 2025 and added that ‘every effort’ had been made to ensure there was no loss of parking as a result of the scheme.

He added that the materials used will be locally sourced in the majority but will be ‘of high quality and durability’.

“This is a great regeneration opportunity for what has become a very vibrant commercial centre in Slough and certainly we want to make sure that we get this absolutely right,” Cllr Smith added. 

Cllr Smith recommended for the plans to incorporate the views of both ward councillors and revisions to limit the 20-mph zone to the echelon parking bay area and this was agreed by councillors.