The village where the wind was written in the willows has been destroyed by dense traffic, with the locals who are trying to squeeze old land strips for fear of their lives.
But unlike Mr Toad, who was famous for his reckless driving, the inhabitants of Cookham try to reclaim the streets due to dangerous driving.
Running is a group of local celebrities, including a TV cabaretier, an Olympian and a TV -Naturalist who has joined forces to turn it into a mini -amsterdam
Eline van der Veldden, the award -winning filmmaker and comedian, was inspired by her Dutch roots to propose plans similar to the bicycle -friendly cities in the Netherlands.
With a humorous video in which she embodies her famous Miss Holland, she showed the dangers of the narrow roads of Cookham and asked the locals to sign her petition, which already has 2,000 signatures,
The former beauty queen has said that she wants to build a Cycle network of ten miles to surround Cookham, Berks with nearby villages and Elizabeth Line Station of Maidenhead.
“You move to the country for fresh air and a more relaxed way of life but the traffic in villages here are just as bad as the cities, especially during school runs,” said the mother of one, whose daughter is now going to school year.
“It's a catch-22: heavy traffic and small footpaths make it too dangerous to walk or cycle with your children, so you have no choice but to take your car,” she said.
“I love life in England, but the traffic and the dangerous countries are terrible.”
Video images highlights some of the narrow roads where it is dangerous to pass
Mothers were forced to keep themselves close to the wall along narrow walkways on the roads
The roads are particularly narrow and have little room for cars and pedestrians to pass safely
Larger vehicles such as trucks and tractors have a hard time using the roads
Images show how narrow the roads are in the village, especially on country road strips
Another famous local backshall from Steve and his Olympic rowing champion Vrouw Helen Glover supported the movement to make the streets of Great Britain safer.
The TV Wildlife Explorer said he once took a group of children who swam with sharks and it was safer than walking through the streets in the UK. That's how bad it is. '
Former Hollyoaks star Zoe Lister said: 'If someone who cycles with my children, I know how important it is to feel safe on the road.
“This campaign is about creating spaces where families can enjoy cycling without fear.”
“If this doesn't work, we will have to bring in Ricky Gervais who lives in the neighborhood … Imagine you see him in a council meeting,” Van der Veldden joked.
“The use of humor to spark felt like the perfect approach,” Van der Veld said about her video.
“Miss Holland has always been to embrace British culture in her unique way, and this time she tackles something that influences us all – road safety.”
She wants to make cycling the standard transport mode in the village, with cars that are only used to leave the area. “It will look a bit like Centrumparcs, another Dutch invention,” she jokes, “but with better food and no screaming children on zip lines.”
Eline van der Velden shared a humorous video in which she embodies her famous Miss Holland trying to defy the busy streets of Cookham
The former beauty queen has said that she wants to build a Cycle network of ten miles to surround Cookham, Berks with nearby villages and Elizabeth Line Station of Maidenhead
The award -winning actor was inspired by her Dutch roots to propose plans similar to the bicycle -friendly cities in the Netherlands
There are few footpaths that can be used safely and can be accessible on the main roads of the village
The narrow roads in Cookham have feared residents for their lives
TV Wildlife Presenter Steve Backshall said it was more dangerous to swim with sharks than to walk on the street
Former Olympic rowing champion Helen Glover and former Hollyoaks star Zoe Lister also supported the petition
The paths, which will also be suitable for scooters, driques and horse riders were first presented by a local landowner five years ago.
They would take on four primary schools, a secondary school and local cricket and football fields – and some money is available from community infrastructure taxes on two housing developments in the area.
The campaign also has the support of the Copas family – local landowners – who presented the route for a neighborhood plan in 2019.
Other landowners on the route – the Clived Estate of the National Trust and a quarry company have also looked favorably.
Van der Velden said that the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidhead Council had been positive and cooperative.
“We just try to bring it back to how it was before,” she said.
'In the 1970s, more than three -quarters of the children walked or cycled to school in the 1970s. Now most people drive. '
Van der Velden hopes that the campaign will serve as a blueprint for other commuting villages that struggle with congestion.
Cookham was where Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in The Willows, grew up and later lived while writing the novel of the beloved children.
A link to the petition can be found here.
