Peascod Street given 'new lease of life' by paving improvements

Paving improvements in Peascod Street will bring a ‘new lease of life’ to the area according to a senior Royal Borough councillor.

Work on the project, suggested by the Windsor and Eton Town Partnership and the Windsor District Chamber of Commerce, has been on-going since January.

Cllr Colin Rayner (Con, Horton & Wraysbury), cabinet member for highways and transport, said he is hoping businesses and residents will reap the benefits of the scheme.

He said: “I’d like to thank all the local businesses and residents for their patience while this work was carried out and I hope they are enjoying the new lease of life this has brought.

“The street works have already made access easier for our disabled residents and visitors.”

The improvements involved raising the road level on Peascod Street between Oxford Road East and William Street in a bid to make the area more ‘pedestrian-friendly’.

New sawn granite setts paving have replaced the old cobbled road surface, allowing cafes on the street to provide outside seating and increase footfall.

A new extended bicycle rack has also been created in William Street and additional bike stands have been installed at Oxford Road East.

Street furniture around the William Street junction was removed and relocated to improve views along the road and encourage residents and visitors to head towards St Leonards Road.

Matthew McLauchlan, a director at Martyn Crossley florists on Peascod Street, said: “When I came here 24 years ago, Peascod Street was not pedestrianised and you had buses and cars coming down.

“This makes such a difference. I think it’s fantastic, it should have been done years ago.”

Cllr George Bathurst, chairman of the Windsor and Eton Town Partnership, said the borough hoped to launch a similar project in Charles Street.