As a resident of Cookham and a parent of a young daughter, my heart yearns for a safe community where the children (and adults!) can grow and explore with freedom and security. A village where we can get on our bicycles and pedal to any nook and cranny, without the risk of high-speed traffic or terrible pollution. 

We have partnered with the local farmers and landowners to arrive at a proposed plan for constructing an off-road cycling path network around Cookham which will connect to Maidenhead and Bourne End. This is not only about encouraging a healthy lifestyle or independence for our children and ourselves, but also about reducing vehicular traffic and thus, curbing the epidemic levels of pollution plaguing our roads. Recent measurements have shown that pollution levels are worryingly high on Cookham's roads and near schools. 
I’d love to pop to the Country Store, GP or the station on my bike instead of driving.

With this initiative, we will be making a significant stride towards a healthier environment, less dependent on vehicular transportation. By enabling our children to cycle to all schools safely each day, we will be reducing the need for school run cars, and in turn contributing to less vehicular pollution.

A few important points:

• We would opt for environmentally friendly surfaces that would blend into their surroundings beautifully. Stabilised sand (hardened) would be a nice surface option instead of tarmac. Or reinforced grass like we have by the national trust carpark.

   

• The cycling paths should not be on the roads with cars.
• We'd want the paths to be multi-purpose; for scooters, walking, running, pushchairs, bikes and horses.

This initiative was originally proposed by the Copas Family 5 years ago as a way to give back to the local community. The idea was to and bring the whole of Cookham together, connect the three Cookham villages to each other via bike lanes and to Maidenhead and Bourne End and improve community connectivity. Copas liaised with the other landowners/farmers in the area to offer this as a possibility across theirs and other's land. The concept was presented to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's Local Access Forum Committee, as well as the parish council, as part of the neighborhood plan, however it did not progress further at the time. We feel that now is the time to try to gauge interest again and move this project forward.

It is our responsibility to shape the village into a haven where our children can foster their independence safely. Please sign this petition and show your support for a better, healthier Cookham.