Footpath dream moves closer to being reality

It's been dreamt and talked about for many years. But now a footpath linking the riverside Thames Path to the Lower Cookham Road near Whitebrook Park is close to becoming a reality.

The East Berks Ramblers and Maidenhead Civic Society, who have campaigned tirelessly for the path for more than a decade, hope that funding arising from the redevelopment of an office complex at Whitebrook will allow the path finally to be created.

The path has been an objective in council documents since the Cookham District Plan of 1973. It was an aim of the RBWM Local Plan of 1999 and the RBWM Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan of 2005-2015.

The route leaves the Lower Cookham Road just north of its junction with Sheephouse Road, and runs alongside the flood bund to the towpath. To date, it has been enjoyed on just one day each year by those taking part in the Rotary Club’s annual Boundary Walk.

But now the Royal Borough’s Rights of Way team are in negotiations to make it a permanent feature.

Access to some of the route has already been given by the owners of Whitebrook Park and, once the path is established, the Ramblers and the Civic Society plan to install a seat, which will offer spectacular view across the Thames to Cliveden.

Another section, owned by the Environment Agency is in line to become a wildlife reserve. Creation of the path would also provide a vital missing link in Maidenhead’s Boundary Walk and the Millennium Walk, a joint Civic Society and Ramblers project.

The completion of the Millennium Walk, which runs from Hurley across country to Maidenhead’s riverside, has been given high priority by the Royal Borough’s Local Access Forum. The Civic Society and East Berkshire Ramblers look forward to the achievement of this long standing local objective and we are very grateful for the support we have received from both the Council and our MP Theresa May.

ANNE DARRACOTT
Maidenhead Civic Society
MARGARET BOWDERY
East Berks Ramblers