FOLLOWING much controversy, blunder, and debate, the Vicus Way multi-storey car park has finally opened.

The car park close to Maidenhead Railway Station boasts 500 spaces over 10 levels, including 52 bays with fast electric vehicle chargers – with capacity to fit further chargepoints in the future.

The council said the short-stay day parking will support the town’s ongoing growth and regeneration by facilitating commuters and town centre employees, in hopes to support businesses and freeing up parking spaces for short-stay visitors such as shoppers.

From January, Vicus Way will be available for season ticket holders. It will be open between 6am to 8pm, seven days a week, with charges applied from 9am to 8pm.

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Day parking is via the RingGo cashless parking system, using zone code 37592.

Due to its proximity to residential properties, the multi-storey car park will be physically close to vehicles and pedestrians from 8pm until 6am.

Vicus Way has proven to be quite controversial over the years when plans were first revealed in 2018. It was even heard four times and prompted Maidenhead MP Theresa May, who was Prime Minister at the time, to weigh in.

Slough Observer:

Then-Conservative councillor Derek Wilson, who was the chairman of the Maidenhead planning panel, made a huge blunder when the planning application was considered in 2018. He voted to refuse the scheme when he actually meant to approve it, requiring another planning meeting a year later.

Since then, opposition councillors questioned if the “eyesore” Vicus Way is even necessary in a post-Covid world given the need for office space has shrunk and there has been a rise in working from home.

But council leader Andrew Johnson (Con: Hurley & Walthams) suspected there will still be a need for the multi-storey car park as a hybrid-working model of homeworking and going to an office will become the norm.

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Cllr Phil Haseler (Con: Cox Green), cabinet member for planning, parking, highways and transport, said: “Maidenhead is a growing town, supported by major investment from the council and private sector, and Vicus Way brings a modern parking offer to support that exciting investment and regeneration, some of which involves redevelopment of our older car parks.

“Vicus Way is for everyone to use, including for day parking. With its edge-of-centre location and proximity to the railway station, it is intended longer-term for day commuters and town centre employees, supporting local businesses, freeing up other town centre parking for short stay use by shoppers, and providing an additional parking option for those using the Elizabeth Line from Maidenhead.”

As part of the car park project, a new zebra crossing was installed across Vicus Way, along with new footpaths on Vicus Way and Stafferton Way, to improve pedestrian access and safety in the area.