Cookham residents launch campaign to transform the village into a safer, bike-friendly space to reduce traffic congestion

Cookham, the quaint village where The Wind in the Willows was written, is now facing a modern problem: congested traffic.

Locals are voicing concerns over the dangers posed by the heavy flow of cars trying to navigate the narrow country lanes, with some even fearing for their safety.

While Mr. Toad’s reckless driving may have been the stuff of fiction, residents of Cookham are taking real steps to tackle the rising traffic chaos in their own village.

Local Celebrities Lead the Charge for Change

A group of influential locals, including TV comedian Eline Van Der Velden, Olympian Helen Glover, and TV naturalist Steve Backshall, are now leading a campaign to transform Cookham into a safer, more pedestrian-friendly community.

Inspired by the bike-friendly cities of the Netherlands, Van Der Velden—who has Dutch roots—has proposed creating a ten-mile cycle network that would link Cookham to surrounding villages and Maidenhead.

Van Der Velden, known for her Miss Holland character, launched a humorous video showing the hazards of Cookham’s narrow roads, encouraging locals to sign her petition.

Already, over 2,000 signatures have been collected.

“The traffic here is as bad as the cities, especially during school runs,” she explains.

“It’s a Catch-22: the heavy traffic makes it too dangerous to walk or cycle with your kids, so you’re forced to drive.”

Van Der Velden’s goal is to make cycling the primary mode of transport within the village, with cars reserved only for leaving the area.

Support from Fellow Locals

TV wildlife explorer Steve Backshall, known for his adventures with wildlife, is fully on board with the movement.

He recalls his experiences, saying, “I once took a group of kids swimming with sharks, and it was safer than walking the streets here.”

His wife, Olympic rowing champion Helen Glover, also voiced her support, highlighting the importance of creating safe spaces for families to cycle without fear.

Former Hollyoaks star Zoe Lister, a mother who cycles with her own children, shared her thoughts on the initiative.

“This campaign is about creating spaces where families can enjoy cycling without fear,” she said.

A Unique Campaign with a Touch of Humor

Van Der Velden’s humorous approach to the campaign has resonated with many, especially with her playful reference to bringing in comedian Ricky Gervais to a council meeting if the project doesn’t succeed. “Using humor to spark change felt like the perfect approach,” she says.

Van Der Velden’s character, Miss Holland, is known for embracing British culture in her own unique way, and this time, she’s focusing on something that affects everyone: road safety.

The proposal includes not just cycling paths, but routes suitable for scooters, pushchairs, and even horse riders.

The planned cycle network would connect key areas such as local schools, sports pitches, and the surrounding communities.

Van Der Velden and her supporters believe that bringing back safer roads will encourage the same habits that were common in the 1970s, when most children walked or cycled to school.

Community Backing and Plans for the Future

The project has the backing of local landowners, including the Copas family, who proposed the route for a Neighbourhood Plan in 2019.

The National Trust’s Cliveden Estate and other businesses have also expressed their support.

In fact, the local council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, has been positive and cooperative in its approach.

Van Der Velden hopes this initiative will serve as a model for other villages struggling with traffic congestion. “We just want to bring it back to how it was before,” she says.

“More than three-quarters of kids used to walk or cycle to school. Now, most people drive.”

As Cookham continues to wrestle with its traffic problems, this campaign offers hope that the village could once again become a safe and pleasant place for families to walk and cycle.

If successful, it could inspire similar efforts in other commuter villages across the country.

A Nod to the Past

Cookham, famously known as the home of Kenneth Grahame, the author of The Wind in the Willows, has long been a beloved location for literary enthusiasts.

Now, it seems the village is poised to become the backdrop for a modern-day revolution in road safety and sustainable transport.

For those interested in supporting the cause, a petition link has been made available to help bring this vision to life.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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