Cookham, the picturesque village where the classic novel The Wind in the Willows was penned, is battling a new kind of issue: heavy traffic.

Once a peaceful retreat, locals are now concerned about the rising volume of vehicles on the narrow, country lanes that are making daily life increasingly unsafe.

Unlike Mr. Toad, the reckless character from the book, the residents of Cookham are taking action to restore some order to their streets, with a growing movement to address the dangers posed by the traffic.

Local Celebrities Lead Campaign for Safer Streets

At the forefront of this movement is a group of local celebrities who have united to bring about change.

Among them is Eline Van Der Velden, a TV comedian and award-winning filmmaker, who has drawn inspiration from her Dutch heritage.

Van Der Velden, who is known for her comedic character Miss Holland, has created a humorous video showing the perils of Cookham’s crowded streets, while urging residents to join her petition.

The petition has already garnered over 2,000 signatures, and her goal is to create a ten-mile cycle network surrounding Cookham, connecting nearby villages and Maidenhead’s Elizabeth Line station.

Van Der Velden explains her frustration: “You move to the country for fresh air and a more relaxed way of life, but the traffic here is as bad as in the city, especially during school runs.”

She points out that the narrow roads and lack of safe footpaths make it impossible to walk or cycle with children, so driving becomes the only option.

“I love living in England, but the traffic and dangerous lanes are terrible,” she adds.

Community Support from Celebrities and Locals

Joining Van Der Velden in the push for safer streets are Steve Backshall, a TV wildlife explorer, and his Olympic gold medalist wife, Helen Glover.

Backshall, who has been known to take children on thrilling adventures with sharks, said, “I’ve taken kids swimming with sharks, and it was safer than walking the streets in the UK. That’s how bad it is.”

Zoe Lister, a former Hollyoaks star and a cycling mother, also backs the initiative, sharing her concerns about road safety for families.

She said, “As someone who cycles with my kids, I know how important it is to feel safe on the road.”

For Lister, the campaign is about making it easier for families to enjoy cycling without fear.

In a lighthearted moment, Van Der Velden joked, “If this doesn’t work, we’ll have to bring in Ricky Gervais, who lives nearby…imagine facing him in a council meeting!”

The Plan for a Bike-Friendly Village

Van Der Velden’s vision is to transform Cookham into a village where cycling is the primary mode of transport, with cars being reserved only for longer trips out of the area.

She compares it to the bike-friendly cities of the Netherlands and even jokes, “It’ll be like Center Parcs, but with better food and no screaming kids on zip lines.”

The plan would not only make space for cyclists but also for scooters, pushchairs, and horse riders, creating a safe and inclusive environment for everyone.

The proposal, which was initially suggested by a local landowner five years ago, includes connecting the village’s primary schools, a secondary school, and local sports facilities.

The plan is supported by local landowners, including the Copas family and the National Trust’s Cliveden Estate.

Additionally, the local council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, has shown a cooperative stance on the idea.

A Vision for the Future

Van Der Velden’s ultimate aim is to reverse the trend that has seen more and more parents drive their children to school.

“In the 1970s, more than three-quarters of kids walked or cycled to school. Now, most people drive,” she observes.

If successful, the initiative could serve as a model for other commuter villages facing similar traffic congestion problems.

The charming village of Cookham, once home to Kenneth Grahame, the author of The Wind in the Willows, now faces a challenge far more pressing than the fictional adventures of its beloved characters.

However, with the support of local celebrities and the growing momentum of the petition, there is hope that the village can return to its peaceful, pedestrian-friendly roots.

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

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