Chairman’s Introduction

In March 2006, Cookham Parish Council invited eleven Villagers, acting independently of all local organisations, businesses and political parties, to form a Steering Committee to produce a new Village Plan. The last detailed Plan was written in 1972.

The preparation of a Plan for the next twenty years in the life of our community is a challenge which has been relished by all those who have been involved, and, over the last 21 months, we have been helped by support and contributions from a huge number of local people.

At the outset I would stress that the remit given to us did not include the immediate problems and detailed responsibilities which are properly the business of our Parish and Borough Council, although we have been contacted many times to sort out puddles in the road and similar matters.

Our task has been to address the major problems and the long term challenges and opportunities which face our lovely Village and its people, and to propose solutions which might be implemented during the life of the Plan.

For some, it is natural and all too easy to identify what is wrong with the Village. However, a heartening feature of our work has been to be told so often how much people enjoy living here, and how they cherish our lovely surroundings. Interpreting that, there is an obvious temptation to plan to do nothing; but we are not a museum, our needs are changing, and every previous generation has added to, adapted, and altered our locality. On the whole, the Village is the richer for this.

The Plan is not a ‘wish-list’. As far as possible for a Committee of busy volunteers, supported by professionals and a vast fund of knowledge and know-how from within and without the Village, we have researched quite widely, and have made recommendations based on our findings and using our judgement. For obvious reasons, it has been neither practical nor feasible to go into the detail of many proposals, and we recognise that this is where many problems will lie in the future.

We have addressed and made proposals on issues which we think could and should be implemented during the life of the Plan; but, of course, it is for our elected representatives to make decisions, and, where appropriate, to find the necessary finance. Many of our proposals are dependent upon major commercial decisions involving both public and private money and property and goodwill. Other proposals suggest a great deal of extra work and involvement by local people and particularly by our elected representatives, all of whom are already busy people. We recognise and do not underestimate the problems linked to this, and that our recommendations can only be carried out fully over many years.

I wish to place on record my thanks to and admiration of my fellow Officers, all the Members of the Steering Committee and Workings Groups, and the many other individuals and organisations who have given so generously of their time and other support. It has been a great pleasure and honour to lead this initiative.

Richard Simmonds

Chairman of the Steering Committee

January 2008