After years of closure, key Cookham beauty spot should reopen soon

Hope has sprung that Odney Weir – which has been blocked from public access for years – will be accessible again in the near future after a long battle with the Environment Agency.

The EA closed the crossing over Odney Weir after two men died in the water near this Cookham beauty spot in June 2020.

The path leads across to a green open space owned by the agency, named Sashes Island.

Closing the weir removes access to this island, a beauty spot that is popular with anglers – and also blocks off access to a public right of way, a towpath on the island.

Ever since then, Cookham Parish Council and The Cookham Society have been negotiating with the EA to try to get it opened back up.

But their attempts have been frustrated by ‘long and tortuous’ negotiations with the agency who gave ‘a long list’ of reasons why it could not open the weir back up again, Cookham figures said.

The EA felt that high fencing was needed to increase safety around the weir channel and the body would not reopen access to the land without it.

Previously, waist-high fencing was thought sufficient, but then the EA changed its mind.

Cllr Bill Perry of Cookham Parish Council said the EA was concerned that reopening the weir will increase the number of people who use the common, hence the need for such a tall fence.

“They said, ‘There is a risk that they will fall or jump off the wing wall, and therefore it will be our responsibility even if they do it from your land’,” said Cllr Perry.

Instead, the EA said they wanted to erect a two-metre-high steel palisade fence – like security fencing.

Moreover, they wanted to do this on the Odney Common side, for which the parish council is responsible. It maintains and enforces the byelaws – including what can be constructed on it.

“But we said, ‘No way, Jose, are you going to do that,’” said Cllr Perry.

Given the visual intrusiveness of this ‘ghastly’ structure on the beautiful surrounding views, both the parish council and the Cookham Society thought this would be nothing short of ‘vandalism.’

Though the EA stuck to its guns for a long time, it then changed course and agreed with the parish council to install a less imposing fence.

It has now erected some green three-foot looped railings, the kind that can often be seen around playgrounds.

“It’s a good result because the fence looks quite good, doesn’t obstruct the view and apparently satisfies the EA,” said Cllr Perry.

“The theory is that now that fence is up, they should be getting around to reopening the weir.”

Cllr Perry says he was told by the agency that they would get back to him in due course on the question of when the weir will reopen.

“We’re very pleased that we’ve got this far and it’s now down simply down to the EA to reopen the weir,” said Cllr Perry.

He added: “There are no reasons now, on a formal level, why they should not.”

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “The safety of the general public and our staff on and around our locks, weirs and bridges is paramount.

“We hope to re-open public access across Odney Weir as soon as possible if safe to do so.

“We also appreciate the inconvenience caused by the prolonged closure but ask for the public’s patience while the walkway remains closed to ensure their safety.”