23rd November 2018
Residents of Wendover are being asked to say which noise reduction scheme they would prefer to protect the village from the sound of HS2 construction traffic.
They’ll have five weeks to state their preferences, following two consultation launch events at Wendover Library on Friday 30 November and Saturday 1 December.
They will be able to choose from four options:
• Noise barriers up to 13ft (4m) high, with a total length of just over half a mile (980m), at three locations between Wendover bypass and village housing, which should last up to 20 years. • Low noise surfacing on just over a mile (1.94km) of the bypass nearest to the village, with a life expectancy of up to 60 years. • Very low noise surfacing on up to 1.94km of the bypass nearest to the village, with a life expectancy of up to 20 years. • No action.
Funding of £1.51 million is coming from HS2 Ltd, but Buckinghamshire County Council says the money has been designated specifically for noise barriers along the bypass. And this was given without consulting residents and businesses in Wendover.
Mark Shaw, Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, said: “I recognise residents have differing views on how to reduce noise from HS2 construction traffic, which is why we’re asking them to let us know their preferences for the type of scheme.
“We asked HS2 whether they’d agree to change their designation to include another solution, but they couldn’t give us that guarantee before our consultation.”
However, he said the County Council would still go ahead and consult residents on their preferred solution, even though it’s possible HS2 may not change its mind. The result of the consultation will guide the County Council’s formal request to HS2 about the designation, and subsequent Cabinet Member decision.
Details of the options, along with diagrams, are available at buckscc.gov.uk/wendovernoise and a link to the survey will be live from 30 November. Paper copies of the survey will be available at Wendover Library.
The consultation will close on Friday 4 January 2019.