Staying safe with fireworks

Fireworks are an exciting part of Diwali celebrations that started this week and Guy Fawkes night that will be celebrated on 5 November. However you are celebrating, we want you to have a safe and enjoyable time.

See advice from the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service on how to celebrate safely, including how to check that fireworks are provided by a licensed seller and how to handle and dispose of them safely.

As usual, our Trading Standards team have been busy visiting businesses licensed to sell fireworks in the run up to this year’s celebrations, including conducting safety inspections, providing reminders and checking fire safety measures. 

You can only buy fireworks, including sparklers, until 10 November. Fireworks will then be on sale between 26-31 December and three days before the Chinese New Year. If you suspect anyone of selling or storing fireworks illegally, please report it to our Trading Standards team 

Have your say on the future of the borough's first School Street



There is still time for residents to have their say on the future of the borough’s first School Street in Maidenhead. 

Our consultation follows the successful trial of a School Street in St Adrian’s close for Wessex Primary School, which restricted traffic at the beginning and end of the school day to promote safety and encourage more parents and pupils to walk or ride to the school.

We want to hear your views on the introduction of a number plate recognition camera, that will help to support the small number of volunteer stewards originally managing the scheme.

Have your say on our RBWM Together page by this Monday, 4 November.

Maidenhead Town Forum

Join us for the next Maidenhead Town Forum on Thursday 14 November at the Town Hall, St. Ives Road from 6.30pm.  

The purpose of the forum is to represent the town’s unparished wards including Belmont, Boyn Hill, Furze Platt, Riverside, Oldfield, Pinkneys Green and St Mary’s, and provides an opportunity for residents to participate in discussions around local issues, ask questions, and suggest items for future meetings. 

Details of the agenda and instructions for joining the meeting online will be published on our website during next week. The meeting will also be livestreamed on our YouTube Channel 

Community Spotlight

Here are just some of the upcoming community events and volunteering opportunities in the Royal Borough:

• Frimley Health Charity are holding an exciting Firewalk event for brave 'soles' to help them raise vital funds. Join in the fun at Heatherwood Hospital from 5pm to 7pm on Saturday 2 November, where you can enjoy stalls, delicious food and Ascot Racecourse fireworks (subject to change).

• Sense UK are holding a pub quiz night to raise vital funds to help make a difference to the lives of disabled people and their families across the UK. Join the fun in support of this good cause on Saturday 2 November from 7pm to 10pm at St Joseph's Church Hall in Maidenhead.

• White Waltham village bonfire and fireworks will take place on Saturday 2 November from 5pm at White Waltham Cricket Club. This is always a fun, family evening and any profits go back into the village charity. Visit their website

• Trustee Opportunity: People to Places is focused on enhancing mobility for those with physical disabilities and limited mobility and are looking for a new Trustee to help guide the charity’s strategic direction and governance to better serve the community. Visit their website or call 01628 587920.

• MenCap Chill Out Club takes place every Thursday from 7pm to 9pm during term time at the Highview Centre, Maidenhead for young people with learning disabilities aged 15 - 24 years old. The club is suitable for young people who can attend independently. For more information, email or call Linda on 07783 626357.

• The Baylis Theatre will be holding a Charity Gala Orchestral Concert, 'A Night at the Movies' on Saturday 9 November from 7.30pm at Braywick Leisure Centre. The Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra will be performing the concert in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, hosted by fashion designer for the Royal Family, David Emanuel. Book tickets now

• Maidenhead Bridge Rotary will be holding a charity Indian Cultural Night in celebration of the vibrant and diverse traditions of India on Saturday 9 November at 7pm at Holyport Memorial Hall. Guests will enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner and a Bhangra demonstration with the chance to learn the lively dance! Reserve your tickets

• Windsor Horse Rangers in Fifield are looking for a volunteer Chair person to lead and support the team, help with decision-making to deliver our mission and bring fresh thinking to the charity. Email for more information

• A Celebration of the work of Anton Bruckner by Maidenhead Choral Society will take place on Saturday 16 November at 7.30pm. The concert will be held at St Luke’s Church, Maidenhead. Tickets are £14 and are available on this website

Do you have an upcoming not-for-profit community event or appeal for volunteers you’d like us to share? Send a short summary including key dates and a link to communications@rbwm.gov.uk and it could be shared with more than 21,000 local residents.

To see further volunteering opportunities in the borough, or for another way for community organisations to promote volunteering opportunities, please visit RBWM Together

Our consultations - have your say

We regularly hold consultations and surveys to get your views on proposals within the Royal Borough.

Our current consultations are about:

• School street at St Adrian’s Close for Wessex Primary School - closes 4 November

• Stag Meadow: Cleaner, Greener, Safer Street project - closes 17 November

• Youth activities for 13-18yr olds (up to 25 with SEN) - closes 22 November

• Proposal to introduce a 30mph speed limit on Harvest Hill Road, Maidenhead - closes 24 November

• Updates to our Housing Allocations Scheme - closes 16 January 2025

Local travel updates

For details of further council works on highways, visit our website. For full local roadwork details, including work by utility firms, please visit the One Network website   

• There will be a temporary road closure at the junction of Cordwallis Road, St Lukes Road and the B4447 Cookham Road from 21 Oct to 14 Nov 2024, as part of highway improvements that will be made at three junctions in Norfolk Park to improve road safety based on your feedback. Learn more about the project

• Temporary road closures will be in place during Remembrance Parades across the borough on the morning of Sunday 10 November. See more details on the One Network website

• There will be a full road closure of Castle Hill from the junction with Thames Street/High Street up to Advance Gate from 6.30am - 12pm on Friday 8 November 2024 to facilitate the installation and decoration of this year’s Christmas Tree

• Access to Holyport road from the A308 is currently closed as part of wider improvement work to the key route between Maidenhead and Windsor in 2025. See more details

Keep in touch

Keep up to date with news and information from the council by signing up to Nextdoor and following us on X and Facebook

Other accounts you may be interested in:



• Royal Borough official tourism web page  
• Libraries on Facebook and X
• Royal Borough Registrars on Facebook and Instagram
• Communities Team on Facebook and X
• Windsor & Royal Borough Museum web page
• MyRoyalBorough on X, Facebook and Instagram
• Make Maidenhead on Facebook and Instagram