The Cookham Plan

Findings and Recommendations

Environment and Land Group

3. PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT

In conjunction with other working Groups, review the Green belt and Conservation Areas to identify how they may be promoted in the best interests of the Village

It is very significant that 99% of respondents to the questionnaire agree that The Cookhams should remain a semi rural environment with strictly limited increase in housing stock, and that in general the undeveloped areas should be protected from development. Remarkably all respondents, that answered the question, feel that the traditional character of The Cookhams should be maintained.

Clearly then the environment and changes to it, are a very important part of the Cookham Plan

We are lucky in that we have a wide range of farming activities within the ‘Cookhams’ that compliment the village both visually and in nature conservation. We have the following:-

• A small beef herd and a small flock of sheep at Winter Hill.

• Free range turkeys at Kings Lane

• Horse livery yards in Cookham Dean

• A small herd of highland cattle at Long Lane

• Pick your own fruit and vegetables at Long Lane

• A large suckler herd at White Place Farm

• Summer grazing with cattle at Widbrook and Cockmarsh interspersed with a

small number of private and rented horse paddocks.

• Whilst the remaining land is down to cereal growing, set-aside and hay crops.

Most farms have diversified their operations, which help with their income. These are offices, workshops, storage, light manufacturing and light industry.

The best way of retaining the green belt is by farming, and the public should take advantage of locally produced goods and services. Recreational use of land should also be encouraged, and required sports facilities created.

If farming is not encouraged the alternative is development or encroachment and change of use to residential as shown in section 3.4.3.

There is concern that expansion of equestrian use is detrimental to the green belt. Horses may however be a better option, if development otherwise threatens. They are also more cost effective than cattle, although the lifting of BSE restrictions should help. The change to Single Farm Payment should also help protect the land from misuse. The main problem with horses to the general public is the use of unsightly white electric tape. This can be avoided. Other equipment, such as stables and jumps, should be monitored.

There are concerns in Marsh Meadow that equestrian areas are encroaching on what is considered a public open space. On the other hand the owner feels they can be considered a buffer zone between adjacent properties and the general public. A large area north of Marsh Meadow is fenced off, to protect voles. The Bio-diversity survey shows that none are present, so perhaps this can be reviewed.

3.4        Protecting Cookham’s character and surroundings

3.4.1      Restrictions

The following maps are included as detailed:

·        Conservation Areas    (Figure 3-7 of Housing & Development report)

·        Green Belt

·        Sites of Special Scientific Interest

·        National Trust Land

·        Areas of Special Landscape Value (Fig 3-8 of Housing & Development report)

·        Setting of the Thames (Fig 3-9 of Housing & Development report)

·        Common Land

Only those in bold seem to present any real development restriction, plus Tree Preservation Orders, as a planning application has to be made to prune or remove such a tree.

The protection of the Green Belt is vital to the Cookhams. Conservation Areas are the most important and give real protection. They also contain most listed buildings in the village. Extension of Conservation Areas was considered, but this is really only appropriate to the residential areas, that are already covered, as they would be too restrictive, requiring planning permission for tree maintenance etc. Follow on work to the Bio-diversity survey may justify extension of the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and addition of further Wildlife Heritage (WLH) sites.

It is proposed that a Rural Forum be set up by RBWM where all users of the land can be represented, being farmers, recreational users or non farmers or residents. The key pressure points on the Green Belt are between Maidenhead and Cookham and between the three settlements and of course by the river and the hillsides. The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Ramblers and Cookham Society should be members of this forum, in addition to elected representatives.

We are concerned about the local organisation of The National Trust.   It receives no income locally as there are no chargeable properties other than for residents’ access across verges and common land. We believe it would be beneficial to combine the

areas of Cookham and Cliveden. This would facilitate attractive walks between the two, as well as increasing funding for Cookham. However the Steering Committee declined to pursue this point.

The vision and values for public open space should be publicised and alliances formed with established players and champions.

We suggest information files and a knowledge base should be developed. This point was not accepted by the Steering Committee.

We also suggest that our public open space should be publicised by an annual beating of the bounds ceremony.

The general Planning Process is covered in the Housing & Development Section.

However specific concerns to the environment are covered here.

We feel that retrospective planning permission is given too easily and enforcement action is not working effectively. It is invidious to quote actual examples, but the following sequence is recent:

- Retrospective planning application

- Refused – demolition order

- No enforcement notice issued for 5 months

- Work continued to completion

- New application

- Approved

We are particularly concerned about development to the East side of Bradcutts Lane.

On the other hand we think that the developments in the Conservation Area near the Forge in Cookham Dean are excellent and are to be encouraged, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

We understand that there may be opportunities for further gravel extraction within the

Parish. This may lead to restoration in the form of Conservation Areas, but development

will need to be carefully monitored. These developments may allow possible extension

of the Greenway Cycle Route to Cookham Village by Moor Hall. The Steering

Committee does not support new permissions for gravel extraction in Cookham.

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