Fears raised over Maidenhead Waterways scheme falling into decline without financial backing!
(by Jade Kidd jadek@baylismedia.co.uk 05:00PM, Thursday 30 May 2024)
A key figure behind the restoration of Maidenhead’s waterways has raised fears the scheme will fall into decline without the financial backing of the council.
Richard Davenport, chairman of Friends of Maidenhead Waterways (FoMW), accused the Royal Borough of ‘abandoning’ its commitments to maintain the town’s waterways after he was told there was no money in the pot for two maintenance requests so far this financial year.
The council insists it ‘has not withdrawn funding nor its support’ and has clarified that there is £25,750 in the 2024-25 budget for the waterways.
But this money is set aside for essential maintenance in relation to health and safety – rather than maintaining the appearance and condition of the waterways.
Mr Davenport said he has seen two funding requests – one for the annual clearance of excess weed by contractors and another for sandbags – knocked back this year.
He said that, since 2014, the council has provided funding to restore the Maidenhead Waterways and has helped with larger and unavoidable costs such as the annual excess weed clearance.
FoMW has been supporting the council with maintenance of the waterways since 2014 and Mr Davenport said authority not providing funding to maintain the condition of the waterways ‘puts the entire project at risk’.
The council said essential maintenance includes anything that may ‘seriously compromise the structural or functional integrity of the York Stream’ or anything that poses an ‘imminent threat to public health and safety’.
DHWNEWS EDITORS NOTE: Much money was spent on this project. My view is that the algae and weed growth is exacerbated firstly by high nutrient concentrations (i.e. pollution) arriving continuously from upstream and secondly by the slow water flow leading to localised warming of the water.