Chance to have a say on the future of town

‘Creating a heart for West Windsor’ and ‘keeping Windsor green’ will be two of the key goals of the Windsor Neighbourhood Plan (WNP).

After four years of painstaking work, the plan will be released on Monday to mark the start of a six-week public consultation process where residents can give their feedback on its proposals.

It has been drawn up by the WNP Forum, a group containing business owners and residents from the town.

The plan could help determine whether future planning applications in Windsor are accepted if it is adopted by the Royal Borough.

Claire Milne, co-chair of the WNP committee, told the Express: “We want to keep Windsor green by protecting open spaces and improving green links and corridors through the area.

“While we know we can’t stop development in areas like Imperial Road, what we can try and do is shape how that will look.”

Neighbourhood plans are restricted in their scope and must conform with Government planning laws and greenbelt policies.

But the WNP Forum hopes it can influence the planning future of the town by ensuring any new houses are designed appropriately by being set back from the road and maintaining open front gardens.

Dedworth Road has been identified as an area which needs improvement in the WNP with the committee keen to ‘create a heart for West Windsor’ by turning it into a ‘key shopping area’.

A park and ride system is also being championed at Royal Windsor Racecourse.

Committee member Helen Price said: “While you can’t protect everything it would mean we don’t get any big planning mistakes where people are left saying ‘how on earth was that allowed?’

“It’s not about stopping development but about developing in a way that is palatable to local people,” added fellow committee member Susy Shearer.

The WNP will be available to view online at www.windsorplan. org.uk from Monday.

All responses must be emailed to info@windsorplan.org.uk by November 7.

The plan will then be submitted to the Royal Borough.