A SUDDEN last-minute withdrawal of the Royal Borough’s parking strategy left a councillor “absolutely livid” with cabinet members.

The parking strategy – which was meant to be heard at Thursday’s (October 29) cabinet meeting – sets out the council’s plans for 2020 to 2030, predicting parking spaces in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead while taking into account new developments such as the Vicus Way car park.

It also includes a potential trial period of an app-only scheme for residents comprising one hour of free parking in places such as Alexandra Gardens and three hours free parking in Hines Meadow.

Other plans include adding more electric charging points as well as replacing town centre car parks with outer town park and ride sites.

READ MORE: Windsor & Maidenhead urges government to provide local track & trace funds

Councillor David Cannon (Conservative: Datchet, Horton, and Wraysbury), lead member for public safety and parking, said the paper was deferred as they received “several helpful comments” they wish to see possibly incorporated in the strategy before bringing it to cabinet.

Following this sudden announcement, councillor John Baldwin (Liberal Democrats: Belmont) said he was “absolutely livid” that the strategy has been withdrawn and insisted opposition councillors be consulted on any changes made in the report before going back to cabinet again in November.

He said: “It seems incredible to me that this decision hasn’t been taken in the last two minutes.

“Many members have spent many hours since, I believe, it was Tuesday evening that this paper was released. We’ve poured over it, we’ve talked about it with our residents, we’ve taken a tremendous amount of their feedback.

“We came here tonight with serious questions.”

READ MORE: Windsor & Maidenhead diversity plans pass - but with some resistance

The leader of the council, councillor Andrew Johnson (Conservative: Hurley and Walthams) said any comments or questions on the paper can be directed to Cllr Cannon in advance before the next cabinet meeting, so they can be discussed and incorporated in the report.

Before moving on, Cllr Johnson told Cllr Baldwin there was “no need to get grumpy about it”.

Cllr Baldwin responded: “There’s every need to get grumpy about it.”

The parking strategy will be heard at the next cabinet meeting on November 26.