Our major recommendations
Tourism, Footpaths and Cycleways
| MAIN REPORT INDEX |
We are concerned that there is no co-ordination of the Cookhams’ tourist attractions, facilities and events, and little publicity of our extensive footpath and bridleway network. We believe that an opportunity exists to improve significantly Cookham’s tourist trade, to the benefit of the local economy, by more focussed planning, co-ordination and publicity, and we acknowledge that this will create the need for additional parking.
We recommend greater communication and cooperation between the various stake-holders in tourism, the provision of tourist information at Station Parade, and the preparation and provision of footpath maps, which should highlight circular routes and the large commons and other areas which are open to the public. We understand that a pilot study is proposed to make available local tourist information via G.P.S. (Global Positioning Satellites) and we would encourage this.
We are concerned that there is only one public lavatory in the Village (in Sutton Road) and consider that further provision should be made in the vicinity of the Station Parade.
In order to increase the safety of pedestrians going to and from Holy Trinity School, and to encourage more parents to walk their children to school, we recommend the improvement of the footpath from the centre of the causeway across the Moor to the footpath along the eastern boundary of Moor Hall and on to a rear entrance to Holy Trinity School.
We recommend the completion of the cycleway from Maidenhead to Cookham by creating a route via Poundfield Lane, past the old sewage works site and along the west side of Marsh Meadow to the railway/pedestrian bridge crossing the river to Bourne End. This would enable the separation of cyclists from pedestrians who use the very popular Thames Path.
We are concerned by the dilapidated condition of the former sewage works adjoining Marsh Meadow, and recommend that it be removed and the land restored, providing a site for tourist information and a rest area.
We recommend that when Cookham Weir is next renovated, a new path should be constructed over the Weir linking the Buckinghamshire bank with Saches Island. This would enable a new circular route, via Cookham Lock.
Many of these proposals involve the use of privately-owned land and have financial implications. The cooperation and goodwill of landowners will be required to achieve them.
We believe that there is a need for better way-marking, and coordination and publicity of our local and long distance footpaths to enable more use of circular routes. In addition to the provision of tourist information in the area of the Station Parade, we recommend information boards by the Jolly Farmer, in the High Street and the proposed Marsh Meadow Car Park.
We believe that it is important to achieve a balance between the importance of the provision of useful and attractive signage, and unnecessary street and countryside furniture. We should welcome the return of the Village name signs with the Twinning logo on the main approach roads to the Village.
Much of the open land in the village is owned by the National Trust (a map is included on line/disc) but provides them with little income to manage. We think that the Trust and the Village would benefit from greater promotion by the Trust of its local assets for tourists.
The full report of Environment and Land is available on line/disc.