REOPEN PUBLIC ACCESS OVER ODNEY WEIR WITHOUT DELAY

[Cookham Society]

THE SOCIETY MAKES A FORMAL REQUEST TO THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY TO REOPEN PUBLIC ACCESS OVER ODNEY WEIR WITHOUT DELAY

Public access over Odney Weir and onto Lock Island, Cookham was established by the NRA in 1991 and enjoyed by the public until 2020. It is now nearly three years since the EA arbitrarily closed the path over the weir to the public. Despite exchanges of letters, emails, and site meetings the access still remains closed, and we have not been advised of any proposal to re-open it in the near future.​

We understand that under the “Code of Practice on Conservation, Access and Recreation” the EA have a duty to allow freedom of access unless there is a “significant danger to public health and safety”.​

By the use of a Freedom of Information request The Society has obtained the EA’s most recent Public Safety Risk Assessment which makes no mention of a need to close the access on any safety grounds. The Society has therefore formally written to the EA to request reopening the access without delay.​

Also, we can see absolutely no logical argument why the access should remain closed until the completion of proposed fencing on the Odney Common side of the river, as suggested by the EA. Furthermore we have requested that the EA think again about this. Not only will it desecrate a beauty spot, but it will prevent access from the Common for help to anyone in the water close by the weir.