Heavy flooding causing 'considerable disruption' in Cookham, parish councillor says

Heavy flooding in Cookham is causing ‘considerable disruption’ in the village, a parish councillor has said.

High water levels in Cookham have left several major roads closed including the B4447 The Moor and Sutton Road. 

The closures meant there was no road access into the village, and as a result the Cookham Causeway has been opened for vehicles and pedestrians on a timetable. 

But despite the access being opened, businesses in the village are feeling the impact, particularly following on from the on-going closure of Cookham Bridge for maintenance works.

Stacey Humphrey, assistant manager at The Ferry Pub and Restaurant in Sutton Road said the venue has been ‘massively’ affected by the closures. 

She said: “[We are] massively affected obviously because there's only one way in [and] one way out at the moment and then the Causeway closes at 7pm. 

“So, all our bookings are just being cancelled.”

Stacey added that yesterday (Sunday) the pub only had about 20 customers, whereas on a Sunday, usually 200 people attend the venue and today’s figures are even lower. 

She added: “The bridge closure wasn't helping anyway, but it's been a couple of months now, people are kind of coming to terms with it, either they travel, or they don't. 

"But with the floods, there's not much anyone can do now.

“But [we're] just thankful, I guess, that they've opened the Causeway so we can actually get in ourselves otherwise we wouldn't be able to.”

Stacey said that where the flood water has come through, it is now in the garden of the pub and the disabled access at the back of the venue is now ‘unusable’. 

She added that the water is also going down towards the staff doors and the private dining area. 

Over at the Teapot Tea Shop in Cookham High Street, manager Cora Van Wyngaardt said that the venue has not been impacted by any physical flooding. 

She explained that the shop had not been ‘too affected’ by the closures due to the flooding and added that the venue has had 'quite a busy morning' and locals in the village ‘have been making the effort to come down’. 

Cookham parish councillor Bill Perry highlighted the impact the floods are having on the village and businesses and the ‘considerable disruption’ that flood waters are causing. 

He said: “In many ways, I think they're probably worse even than in 2014 in some respects. 

“It's always dire for the village when the road access across the Moor is cut and we substitute the Causeway, not least because the Causeway is supposed to be used basically for emergency vehicles, so it does terrible things to business in the village, and then when the A4094 shuts, it is always bad.”

 “It's making what is bad due to the closure of the bridge worse because even the people from Cookham can't now easily get to Cookham High Street,” he added. 

Cllr Perry explained that when the only way in and out of the village is via the Causeway, it is ‘very difficult because it’s very narrow’. 

He also reflected on the impact upon school pupils and education, should people need to be dependent on the Causeway due to ongoing road closures.