HS2 Monthly Report, NOV 24

Works update

·       Removal the temporary traffic lights on the Ellesborough Road diversion should happen before the end of November as UK Power Networks have removed the old sub-station.

·       Due to the recent wet weather the haul road is unusable and mass movement of spoil has stalled and is unlikely to restart before April.  Work has started to rebuild the Utility Services bridge beside Ellesborough Road to allow the Thames Water main and sewer to be diverted above the haul road.

·       Tarmac surfacing of the new temporary Bacombe Lane link road is being laid, and the road should be open in early December.

WPC activity

·       Bucks Council are supporting our request for woodland at the Green Tunnel North Portal which should provide some additional noise mitigation.  We are also expecting that EKFB will also support our request to provide a cycle path on the top of the Green Tunnel, rather than just leave space for someone else to do the work.

·       Bucks Council have not yet received a planning application for the “Spring Chamber” in the fields at the end of Dobbins Lane.  Greg Smith MP has also escalated residents’ concerns about the use of the Lane by HS2 HGV trucks and seeking an alternative access route for the works.

·       Bucks Council have repaired potholes in Hale Lane, but have not come up with a strategy to handle the volume of rat run traffic anticipated traffic due to planned closure of Rocky Lane for construction of the HS2 bridge.

·       Fourteen public issues were handled in the month, including the Grove Farm Culvert works at Bacombe Lane, night-time noise at Nash Lee Lane, and noise predictions for house purchase.

Current Issues

·       There are several on-going outstanding action items waiting response from EKFB arising from the monthly WPC/WHS2/MP/HS2 update calls.  This appears to be due to lack of EKFB resource and we welcome the arrival of Pat Kelly, a Community Engagement Director responsible for troubleshooting across Buckinghamshire.

·       The Bucks Council HS2 team is being reorganized following the departure of the team leader and redeployment of one of the two community engagement managers.  Details of the new organisation are awaited, but we anticipate that this will reduce WPC’s ability to influence EKFB and HS2 Ltd.