COOKHAM SOCIETY Home Page Registered Charity 257224

Cookham Society Recent Actions

Cookham’s Green Belt Listed for Potential Housing Development’ (including letter to members)

THE COOKHAM PLAN 2008 - COOKHAM SOCIETY RESPONSE to PARISH COUNCIL

What it is

The Cookham Society is an active local Amenity Society. Its aims are, for the benefit of the public, to protect, preserve, develop and improve features of general public amenity and historic, architectural or artistic interest, or natural interest or beauty within the geographical area known as ‘The Cookhams’ in Berkshire.

The Society is neither political nor sectarian. ‘The Cookhams’, (Village, Rise and Dean), are enjoyed by countless visitors and non-residents are very welcome to join and give their support to the Society's aims.

What it does

Acting through a Committee elected by its members, the Society keeps a watch on all matters affecting the locality. These include planning applications and development, roads, bridges, bridleways and footpaths, public open spaces, the riverside, tree planting and preservation, local services and so on. We also rely on our members to communicate with the Society on matters of local concern or interest.

Liaison is maintained with Local Authorities and local Amenity Societies (eg the Maidenhead Civic Society, the River Thames Society, the National Trust, The Ramblers Association, the CPRE and the Heathrow Association for the Control of Aircraft Noise Groups). The Society is also a member of Ashtav (Association of Small Historic Towns & Villages)

Through its presence at local events and its own events programme, the Society also endeavours to contribute to the sense of community in ‘The Cookhams’.

Why you should join

Government, both national and local, has come increasingly to recognise the importance of public opinion in both major, and more local, planning and development proposals. They also recognise that this opinion can often best be ascertained and expressed through the medium of a local Amenity Society, such as The Cookham Society.

The Society was formed in 1968 in response to two major development proposals affecting Cookham. One was for gravel extraction from over 300 acres of land immediately south of Cookham Village at White Place Farm alongside the Thames, and the other was to build a new housing estate on Poundfield adjacent to the village Conservation Area. In each case the Society successfully put forward the views of the local residents and prevented these development proposals from going ahead.

More recently the Society successfully presented a case to the Royal Borough for inclusion of Poundfield in the existing village Conservation Area. As a result, the important contribution of both Poundfield and Marsh Meadow to the Conservation Area has been recognised, particularly in relation to the life and work of Sir Stanley Spencer RA who lived and worked in Cookham.

Membership is open, by subscription, to any person interested in furthering the aims of the Society. By joining and giving your support – be it merely by subscribing or by taking a more active role - you strengthen the Society’s position, and enable it to represent, and be more effective, on behalf of as many local residents as possible.

Meetings

An Annual General Meeting is held in the Spring to elect the Committee for the following year, approve the accounts, etc. Social meetings and events are held from time to time, when members have an opportunity to meet the Committee and discuss matters of local interest. Periodically the Society issues a Newsletter reporting on its activities and drawing attention to matters of local concern. On major local issues a Special Meeting may be called to ensure that the Society reflects the majority view.

Subscriptions
Subscriptions are due on 1^st January on the basis of individual annual at £3 a year, or the more popular individual/Household 5-year periods at £15. Donations towards the general fund or towards specific projects are also very welcome. More details are contained in the Membership Application Form.

Membership Application
You can apply for membership of the Society by either printing off an Application Form by selecting the blue ‘Membership Application’ button at the top of this home page, or by contacting our Membership Secretary: Bill Spicer, Azul, High Road, Cookham, Berkshire, SL6 9JU. Tel: 01628 525258, or email: bill@thespicers.co.uk .

Committee  (October 2009)

NEWS ITEMS Cookham's Green Belt Earmarked for Housing 9 April 2009 Cookham Society Votes for New Chairman 16 March 2008 Pantomime Time at the Fayre 25 November 2006 Upstairs Downstairs at Moor Hall 12 November 2005 Warm up to Christmas 27 November 2004 Cookham Society Say Cheers 19 November 2004 Cookham Society Celebrates Christmas 29 November 2003 Cookham Society and a Taste of Wine 20 November 2003 Cookham Society Hears Cookham Voices 20 October 2003 Twinning and Cookham Society Christmas Party 21 December 2002 Halloween Evening Keeps the Spirits Up 7 November 2002 Cookham Society Historical Walk Enjoyed by All 28 April 2002 Cookham Society Historical Evening a Sell Out  27 February 2002 Cookham Society Painting Auction (19 December 2001 Children's Art Exhibition to Commemorate Spencer's Work a Joy to Visit (7 June 2001) Cookham Society Votes for New Chairman (24 May 2001)
NEWSLETTERS
2010	Spring 2010 .pdf
2009	Spring 2009 .pdf	Summer 2009 .pdf	Autumn 2009 .pd
2008	Spring 2008 .pdf	Summer 2008 .pdf	Autumn 2008 .pdf
2007	Spring 2007 .pdf	Summer 2007 .pdf	Autumn 2007 .pdf
2006	Spring 2006 .pdf	Summer 2006 .pdf	Autumn 2006 .pdf
2005	Spring 2005 .pdf	Summer 2005 .pdf	Autumn 2005 .pdf
2004	Spring 2004 .pdf		Autumn 2004 .pdf
2003	Spring 2003 .pdf		Autumn 2003 .pdf
2002			Autumn 2002 .pdf
2001	Spring 2001	Summer 2001	Autumn 2001
2000	Spring 2000	Summer 2000	Autumn 2000
1999			Autumn 1999
1998	Summer 1998		Autumn 1998
1997	Spring 1997

home    top of page

back    any suggestions