Alexandra Gardens - Windsor Says No!

Liberal Democrats in Windsor have been running our Windsor Riverside Development Consultation since last year online survey since last year and have just over 600 respondents at the time of writing. Results so far show no support of any kind for the Conservative proposals to develop at Alexandra Gardens Car Park, Alexandra Gardens Coach Park or on Baths Island in the River Thames.

The survey is part of our Save Alexandra Gardens 20-21 campaign (SAG20-21) which is aiming to secure a proper say for Windsor residents in development decisions affecting our town around Alexandra Gardens and along the Windsor riverside. The Local Liberal Democrats hope to get several thousand respondents by the time the council consults.

"We've already had a small victory with the Council Leader and one of the Windsor Tory councillors now telling social media Baths Island won't be developed and the council Chief Executive writing to Windsor councillors saying they won't build on Baths Island despite announcing it at Maidenhead Town Forum only a week or two ago."

says local Lib Dem Cllr Karen Davies.

The survey breaks down the Windsor Riverside into distinct areas and includes specific questions for the 3 areas around Alexandra Gardens announced for development by local Conservatives. For each question a series of options were suggested along with an open response box provided and many individual comments were received.

"From our survey it appears that there isn't any public support in principle for the major development at the three sites around Alexandra Gardens the Conservatives were considering. Only a tiny handful of people support building flats at these sites. Residents do seem to think the Coach Park facilities need improving or refurbishment, particularly the shop, café, toilets and bridge to the Royal Windsor shopping centre."

says Save Alexandra Gardens campaigner Julian Tisi.

"We're really hoping to capture the genuine views of Windsor residents, our survey has lots of options for the whole of the Windsor Riverside and every question has an open box where residents can give their own ideas. The survey remains open and we'd love to hear from everyone who lives in Windsor and regular visitors from elsewhere. People can join in at http://windsorlibdems.org.uk/Windsor-Riverside-2020."

Among the many questions asked in the survey were 3 specifically on the three areas the Conservatives are planning development at. The results so far for these areas are as follows:

Survey Questions and Responses

We asked a large number of questions about areas along the Windsor Riverside or adjacent to Alexandra Gardens - the full survey can be seen at windsorlibdems.org.uk/Windsor-Riverside-2020. The following 3 questions are directly relevant to the areas the Conservative council are considering for development, answers in bold are most relevant to the Conservative plans:

(<1%) denotes less than 1% of respondents agreed with an answer.

(0%) denotes no respondents agreed with an answer.

Alexandra Gardens Car Park QUESTION:

The Alexandra Gardens Car Park was originally the Windsor & Eton Central Station goods yard. When goods traffic to Windsor stopped in the 1960s it became the coach & car park. This space is currently a ground level only carpark with a hard surface providing space for 198 cars with 3 disabled bays. What types of development / change would you like or be happy to see here? (tick all the boxes you agree with)

People may select multiple answers, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

• Leave it as it is (44%)
• Improve the car park (37%)
• Make the car park into green space and add it to Alexandra Gardens (33%)
• Move visitor parking out of town with improved park & ride facilities (45%)
• Improve local bus services so people don't need to drive into town (42%)
• Improve local cycle routes so more people cycle into town (46%)
• Build houses or flats here instead of the car park (0%)
• Build flats with shops and cafes on ground floor here instead of the car park (3%)
• Build a hotel here instead of the car park (0%)
• Build expensive houses or flats to make more money for the council (<1%)
• Build affordable houses or flats and/or social housing to rent for local people (1%)
• Build a multi-storey carpark (4%)

Alexandra Gardens Coach Park Question:

The Alexandra Gardens Coach Park was also part of the former goods yard for Windsor & Eton Central Station. The coach park has space for the large number of tourist coaches which visit Windsor and is served by public toilets a small gift shop and small café. A lift with a bridge is provided to Windsor & Eton Station and the shopping within the old station. Not everyone will admire the architecture of the shop and café. What types of development / change would you like or be happy to see here? (tick all the boxes you agree with)

People may select multiple answers, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

• Leave it as it is (34%)
• Improve the coach park (31%)
• Improve / replace the buildings which contain the gift shop, café & toilets (53%)
• Make the coach park into green space and add it to Alexandra Gardens (30%)
• Move coach parking out of town with coaches dropping off in town, but then parking elsewhere (42%)
• Make more car parking spaces instead of the coach park (9%)
• Build houses or flats here instead of the coach park (0%)
• Build flats with shops and cafes on ground floor here instead of the coach park (2%)
• Build a hotel here instead of the coach park (1%)
• Build expensive houses or flats to make more money for the council (1%)
• Build affordable houses or flats and/or social housing to rent for local people (1%)
• Build a multi-storey carpark (2%)

Baths Island Question

Baths Island is the island in the River Thames running from the Windsor Leisure Centre towards the Windsor / Eton Bridge, finishing opposite the Café on Barry Avenue. The Island is cut in half by the Windsor Slough Railway, but is larger than first appears. The Railway Bridge itself was built by IK Brunel and is a listed structure, being the oldest wrought iron railway bridge in service in the world. Currently Baths Islands is public open green space. What types of development / change would you like or be happy to see here? (tick all the boxes you agree with)

People may select multiple answers, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

• Leave as it is (57%)
• Improve the green space (71%)
• Improve the planting scheme with more interesting plants and flowers (64%)
• Build houses or flats on the island (0%)
• Build a hotel on the island (1%)
• Build expensive houses or flats to make more money for the council (0%)
• Build affordable houses or flats and/or social housing to rent for local people (0%)
• Improve mooring facilities for leisure craft (26%)
• Provide facilities for house boats / longer term moorings (8%)