By supportberkshire.uk 
The regeneration in Slough seems to be a bit of a letdown.
Slough is my hometown, and I’ve got that boomerang effect going on—living here, moving away, and returning several times over the years. I’ve been back since September after losing my job overseas due to COVID, so I’ve witnessed quite a few changes in the area.
What puzzles me is that even after all this regeneration, things often turn out poorly. Take the high street, for example. I recall them tearing up the old paving and thinking, “What a waste of perfectly good bricks.” Whatever they replaced it with is incredibly slippery when it rains. Does it look better? That’s up for debate. But in terms of practicality, it’s definitely lacking.
Then there’s the bus station. The curved roof design is more of a nuisance, as it drips on you anytime it rains. There’s hardly any shelter—just a common issue in England where places like Datchet station only offer about two meters of coverage. So, on breezy days, you’re left shivering. On top of that, the bus fares here are exorbitantly high, and you can’t even get to the hospital from Langley without transferring at the bus station, which adds unnecessary time and detours through the Wexham estates.
I haven’t visited the new library yet, but from the looks of it, the building seems quite small, so I’m not sure how that’s considered an improvement over the old one. If anyone has insights, I’d love to hear them.
I keep seeing ads for this new “Horlicks Quarter” featuring trendy flats for Crossrail commuters and retail space. But honestly, what’s going to fill that retail space when half the high street is already empty? If you look up the rental prices on high street shops, it’s no wonder they’re vacant—greedy landlords are asking for £4,000 a month!
I totally get where you’re coming from. It’s frustrating to see your hometown go through all these so-called “improvements” that don’t seem to actually improve anything. The issues with the high street paving and the bus station really highlight how often style is prioritized over functionality. It sounds like the design choices are more about aesthetics than user experience, which is disappointing.
You’re right about the changes not addressing the real needs of the community. The high street being partially empty and the overheated rental market just makes it worse. Who can afford those rents for shops, especially if the foot traffic is down? It feels like the regeneration projects are focused more on attracting a certain demographic rather than genuinely improving the area for everyone who lives there.
As for the library, I share your skepticism. If it’s smaller and less accommodating than the old one, what’s the point? It’s crucial to have spaces that are accessible and useful, especially in a town going through so many transitions.
I guess it raises the question: what does real regeneration look like? It should be about creating a space that works for the community, not just flashy developments that cater to commuters. It would be great to see some real community engagement in these projects, so that the voices of local residents are heard and addressed.