HS2 Monthly Report, March ’25

Works update

·       Excavation has started on the 18m deep cutting through Ellesborough Road for the Wendover Green Tunnel.

·       Surprisingly little community reaction to the six month closure of Rocky Lane for diversion to the new HS2 underbridge.  Bucks Council have dismissed our concerns about consequent rat run traffic attempting to use Hale Lane.

·       Tunnelling has started south from Bacombe Lane for the Grove Farm drainage culvert.

Dobbins Lane / South Street HGV Access

·       Following submission of the planning application for the “Spring Chamber” north of Dobbins Lane (ref 25/00406/APP) we produced a briefing for the 4^th March full Council meeting.  The meeting endorsed the decision by the WPC Planning Committee to object to the proposal in line with Community concerns about the HGV traffic involved using Dobbins Lane and South Street; seeking detailed consideration of an alternative site access route from Nash Lee End/Kings Farm. 

·       When the documentation became available on the Planning Portal we briefed Councillors Gallagher, Newcombe Porter and Strachan about the details of the proposal including the revelation of the significantly large number of “non-HGV” vehicle trips also anticipated.  This detail had been omitted from the EKFB/HS2 public meeting presentation on 19^th February, despite having been lodged with Bucks Council at that time.

·       WPC’s formal objection was reviewed at the Planning Committee meeting on 18^th March for submission in the consultation period ending on 25^th March.

·       WHS2 responded to the application pointing out serious deficiencies in the transport management plan, including lack of any detail about how vehicles would be handled for the upgrade of the access track at Bridleways at the start of the project. 

·       The three Ward Councillors have all “called in” the proposal so it should be reviewed at a public BC Planning meeting but this is unlikely to take place before the elections on 1^st May.

Public queries

Five public queries in the month, including questions about Spring Chamber responses and damage caused by HS2 trucks