My News - Cllr Rayner

Since my election in June 2005, I have worked hard for the residents of Horton and Wraysbury.   I meet residents every day as I go about my daily life in the two villages. This may be in the local coffee shops, the newsagents or on Sunday in church. I enjoy being a part of the community and would like to thank everybody who has been kind and helpful towards me in my role as Ward Councillor.

The reason I became involved in local politics was to carry through my strong belief that the only way you can get things changed is to actively participate and do something for your community.  It takes only a few men and women to do nothing to allow evil to succeed.  Please do something positive today and get involved to improve your community.  By working together, we can make Wraysbury and Horton an even better place in which to live, work and play!

Each month I attend the following meetings to represent the views of the two villages:

• Wraysbury and Horton Parish Council meetings,
• Windsor Development Control Panel (which covers every planning application in this Ward),
• Crime and Disorder Forum (where Councillors meet with the local Inspector of Police and discuss problems they may have in their ward).
• Full Council (which meets bi-monthly), where I ask two questions at every meeting relating to matters that are of concern to local residents.  By taking this action, I have made things happen in the ward.
• Cabinet -  which meets once a month.

Councillor Rayner's Surgeries

I hold a Councillor's Surgery once a month at Wraysbury Village Hall.  All residents of Horton and Wraysbury are welcome to come along to this informal meeting to discuss any issue on local matters. My surgeries are normally held on the third Thursday in the month.  I look forward to seeing you there!

If you are unable to attend, I will be pleased to arrange a house call by appointment or you can come along to Berkyn Manor Farm offices for a private meeting.  Please call to arrange an appointment.

I also attend most meetings of the Horton Parish Council & Wraysbury Parish Council to keep abreast of what is happening in the villages and to update the Parish Councils with events in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

I can also be found most Sunday's at St Michaels Parish Church for the morning service.

Village Issues & Matters (since June 2005)

Below is a brief summary of the work that I have been doing on behalf of the residents of Wraysbury and Horton.

• I worked with the Staines Road Action Group to get more than £30,000 worth of spending by the RBWM on Traffic Claiming Scheme measures in the Ward after a string of fatal road accidents on the Staines Road.
• I worked with Adam Afriyie MP and the Hythe End Action Group to remove the concrete crushers based at Hythe End. I also continue to work to prevent further industrialisation of Hythe End. 
• I worked with Horton Parish Council and RBWM to get Horton Road resurfaced.
• Wraysbury Parish Council, the two Ward Councillors and the RBWM have worked to get the Berkshire East Primary Care Trust to keep a Doctor's Surgery in Wraysbury after the retirement of the two local doctors.
• I set up the Self Help Flood Group with the support of the two local Parish Councils. This Group is developing a plan with the RBWM in order that the residents can help themselves in times of flooding.
• When the Thames Water 12ft pipe burst under the B376 at Datchet in April 2006, I pushed the RBWM and Thames Water to build a temporary road through the field, which I farm, to allow access to the villages from Windsor and Datchet (the sunflower field).
• I hold monthly meetings with the local beat officers to discuss the issues of local residents.  I am in daily contact by email with Inspector Mark Harling on all matters concerning local policing.
• I worked with the Council's Streetcare Officer and Cleanaway (Council Contractors) to define the cleaning programme and to ensure it is adhered to. I email the Streetcare Officer on a weekly basis to inform him of fly tipping and other street care issues.
• I have held various meetings with Windsor Housing Association concerning problems with their tenants and have discussed their Housing Policies with them.
• In the last year, I have invited our local MP Adam Afriyie to the villages to meet local residents to discuss their problems to try and resolve various issues.  During the last 16 months, Adam Afriyie MP has carried out over 10 visits.
• I have worked with the local police and the RBWM to try to reduce speeding in the two villages.
• I have attended meetings with the Environment Agency (EA) to try to prevent the flooding that was caused by the mismanagement of the Jubilee River in 2003.  Unfortunately, the EA are only willing to discuss matters, but are very poor when it comes to action, which may involve spending money, other than employing consultants and money spent on offices!  It appears that the EA does not listen to local Parish Councillors, Ward Councillors, leaders of the RBWM, Chief Executives or our local MP. They only answer to themselves and National Government, but I will not give up and will be a thorn in their side until they can manage themselves better and manage the rivers to prevent the flooding in Wraysbury and Horton. I firmly believe that the EA should be answerable to the local people!

Activities undertaken/to be undertaken by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council in Horton and Wraysbury

• CCTV for Wraysbury village in 2008
• CCTV survey undertaken for Horton in 2008
• Support of the Horton & Wraysbury Self Help Flood Group
• Continued development of Horton & Wraysbury Flood Plan
• Support during flooding in July 2007 (over 50 tonnes of sandbags delivered to Horton & Wraysbury)
• 6 Monthly meetings with the EA & Ward Councillors concerning flooding issues
• 359 Horton & Wraysbury Customer Contacts in 07/08
• 252 Streetcare maintenance jobs completed in Horton & Wraysbury
• £32,000 spent on safety/road maintenance in Horton & Wraysbury
• 28 Fly tips cleared in Horton & Wraysbury
• Planning permission for re-development of The Feathers pub
• Improve the road and path cleaning programme
• Improvement to Hythe End roads and safety
• RBWM working with SWT to improve Wraysbury & Sunnymeads Stations
• Public meeting in December 2007 with Wraysbury Parish Council concerning the expansion of Heathrow
• Traffic speed and volume surveys are being undertaken (as requested by Horton Parish Council) prior to the opening of Terminal 5. This will be repeated in 6-9 months time to monitor the local traffic impact of Terminal 5
• Reviewing extent of 30 mph speed limit in Horton Road (as requested by Horton Parish Council)
• Reviewing and improving traffic conditions around Horton Village Green (as requested by Horton Parish Council)
• Report commissioned (and recently received) regarding strategic signing in the area (as requested by local Members/Parish Council)
• Implementing a 20 mph zone (and associated traffic calming measures) outside Wraysbury Primary School. SID's regularly deployed in Horton area
• The approved Capital Programme 2008/09 - Traffic Management Schedule includes £15k for Horton & Wraysbury each to deliver elements of their transport plans (subject to match funding). Horton & Wraysbury are two of only three wards to receive this funding
• There are several road re-surfacing approvals for Wraysbury, as detailed below

Road Class	Road Name	Section Length	Cost
B	B376 Welley Road, Wraysbury - Over railway bridge between stop lines	355	£24,500
B	B376 Stainmes Road, Wraysbury - Magna Carter Lane South to 30/40 mph limit	908	£50,400
B	B373 High Street, Wraysbury	232	£10,600
C	C0702 Stanwell Road, Horton - Datchet Road to Coppermill Road	1,015	£59,300
D	The Green, Wraysbury	323	£7,300
		2,613	£152,100
	2009/2010 (Provisional)
C	C0703 Coppermill Road, Wraysbury - Stanwell Road to Shops	1,262	£38,515

A 20 mph zone on Welley Road and Windsor Road was introduced in the vicinity of Wraysbury Primary School.  The 20mph zone in this busy semi-rural residential area included the construction of new speed cushions, with the aim of ensuring that the 20 mph limit will be largely self-enforcing.

A zebra crossing has been completed in the vicinity of the school entrance, which along with the traffic calming measures should help to encourage walking to and from school and also lead to reduced vehicle speeds. The measures have been taken following the completion of the Wraysbury Primary School Travel Plan 2006-2009, with the aim of addressing some of the key concerns arising from that document.

Agreement For Temporary Road in Datchet

Agreement has been reached to provide a temporay road to carry traffic around the fractured water tunnel at Horton Road, Datchet.  Councillor Rayner's considerable effort, contribution and hardwork in ensuring a speedy outcome in this matter has been acknowledged by the Lead Member for Traffic and Transport in his letter below.

•   Temporary Road in Datchet - Letter from Councillor Wood (pdf 585kb)

Wraysbury and Horton Self Help Group for Emergency Procedures

At present, I am working with the two Parish Councils and Cllr Gregory to set up Wraysbury & Horton Self Help Group for Emergency Procedures. Please find below supporting brief on the RBWM input for planning for emergencies.

•   Horton and Wraysbury Self Help Group For Emergency Procedures Supporting Brief (pdf 19kb)

Street Care Services in Horton and Wraysbury

Following Councillor Colin Rayner's recent investigations into street care services for Horton & Wraysbury, the information below details street cleansing services/frequencies for Horton & Wraysbury, which Councillor Rayner believes the local residents may find of interest. Councillor Rayner wants to help the local Parish Councillors and residents to monitor the contractors and hopes this will lead to a cleaner and tidier Horton & Wraysbury.

•   Horton and Wraysbury Street Cleansing Services/Frequencies (pdf 19kb)