Help plan the future of Alexandra Gardens by joining the Friends of Alexandra Gardens.
Today I had a productive meeting with senior officers and Cllr Simon Werner, Leader of the Council, regarding the shocking state of Alexandra Gardens. It should be a destination but for too many months of the year it is an embarrassment due to the ice rink and fun fair destroying the lawns and January not being idyllic for laying lawns!
Simon’s position was very much along the lines of the fair stays as it brings entertainment for our young people and RBWM can’t afford to open youth clubs at this time. It would be interesting to know what the young people feel about the ice rink and fun fair?
Officers suggested a “Friends of Alexandra Gardens” that could discuss ideas with RBWM for its future development. Simon offered potential plots where teams of volunteers could plant flowers. I suggested that the latter would be seen as the council just looking for free labour, while the former, if it came with some meaningful agreements, that saw the gardens move away from the things that are destroying it, while maintaining the ice rink in the winter, perhaps on a more solid base that wouldn’t involve damaging the lawns, then this might be a foundation for moving forward. This space could possibly double as a sand and water area in the summer months.
A regular, meaningful dialogue between RBWM and local people, about Alexandra Gardens with the interest of Windsor residents at its heart. That might work.
Windsor residents could use the Localism Act 2011 to challenge the council over what they see as poor management. I asked for the numbers, as Local Government Transparency Code 2015 and The Freedom of Information Act 2000, recommend councils share data. Officers agreed to share visitor numbers and revenues / costs for RBWM from the park’s various activities.
It makes sense to share this information at a “Friends of Alexandra Gardens” meeting in the future. Sign up below to be kept informed of any future meeting and possibly becoming a friend and help plan the future of Windsor’s premier public park 😉
Thank you.
Jon Davey
Community Champion
Friend of Alexandra Gardens
Here is the petition from last year that led to the meeting:
Give Alexandra Gardens back to the People
We the undersigned petition the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead to discontiue long term contracts for the eastern half of Alexandra Gardens preventing public access to the lawns.
Mental health is a massive issue in 2025 with social media demanding our attention every 5 seconds. Residents need Alexandra Gardens back for the people of Windsor to get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy some mindfulness.
Random weekend usage for big events that pay a full licence fee, or no fee if a community event, is great but 3 month contracts to any single contractor, allowing them to dominate the public space to the eastern half of Alexandra Gardens should be discouraged and discontinued.
Started by: Jonathan Davey
This ePetition ran from 08/02/2025 to 08/05/2025 and has now finished.
350 people signed this ePetition.
