Regeneration in Slough is seriously disappointing.
Slough is my hometown (woo!). I’m one of those boomerang people who has moved away and returned several times over the years. I’ve been back since September after losing my job overseas due to COVID, and I’ve witnessed many changes in the area.
What I struggle to understand is how the regeneration efforts seem to consistently miss the mark. Take the high street, for example. I remember when they tore up the paving to replace it, thinking it was such a waste of perfectly good bricks. But the new surface? It’s incredibly slippery when it rains. Does it look better? That’s up for debate. But it’s definitely not more practical.
Then there’s the bus station. The curved roof design causes it to drip on passengers, leaving very little actual shelter (a common issue in England—just look at Datchet station, which has only about two meters of covered space). So when it’s windy, you end up freezing. Plus, the bus fares are absurd, and routing to the hospital from Langley requires a change at the bus station followed by a lengthy detour through the Wexham estates.
I haven’t had a chance to check out the new library, but the building looks quite small, and I can’t see how that’s an improvement over the old one. Can someone explain it to me?
I’m also seeing ads on Instagram for this new “Horlicks Quarter.” It’s just yuppie flats for Crossrail commuters along with retail space. But what’s going to fill that retail space when half the high street is already vacant? Just for fun, look up how much it costs to rent a shop on the high street—no wonder they’re all empty! Greedy landlords are asking for £4,000 a month.
It sounds like you have a lot of valid frustrations with the changes happening in Slough. It’s tough to see a place you care about undergo regeneration that misses the mark. The issues with the high street paving and bus station design seem particularly frustrating—functionality should definitely be a priority if you’re spending all that money on renovations.
It’s a shame that instead of improving accessibility and comfort for residents, it feels like a lot of these projects are just catering to a specific demographic, like the “Horlicks Quarter” you mentioned. Gentrification often overlooks the needs of the current community, and it’s concerning that local businesses are suffering while rents are skyrocketing.
Hopefully, if enough people voice their concerns, the powers that be will start to think about the community’s needs and prioritize practical, inclusive solutions over aesthetics. Have you thought about getting involved in local discussions or initiatives? Sometimes a grassroots effort can make a real difference!