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Wendover Parish Council
Welcome to
Strategic Projects
Wendover Parish Council works to a clear strategic framework that sets out its ambitions, priorities and community projects for the parish of Wendover. Priority projects are monitored by the Finance Committee, with the Parish Council regularly reviewing strategy, governance and overall direction.
CLICK HERE for finance reports on active projects
CLICK HERE for action reports on active projects
Hampden Pond
Strategic Objectives:
Environment/Community
Start Date:
1 August 2025
End Date:
31 March 2035
Description:
A 10 year management plan has been received by the Council which sets out how the area can be preserved and developed for future generations.
Benefits:
To ensure the pond continues to be a benefit to the local community as a place to enjoy nature and where wildlife and the community can enjoy together.
Risks:
There are many changes that are needed to ensure the eco-systems remain in tact. These are costly and will not have instantly observable benefits which could bring into question as to why we should spend the money.
Costs/Resources:
The full cost of implementing all elements of the management plan are over £100k over 7-10 years
Status:
Proposed/Planning
Notes and Reports:
A HS2 grant for £25k has been approved for this work.
Hampden Pond - borehole
Strategic Objectives:
Environment
Start Date:
1 August 2024
End Date:
31 March 2026
Description:
Create a water feed to the pond from the aquifer to maintain a regular water level
Benefits:
This will allow the ongoing development of marginal plants and improve water quality. It allows the Council to consider re-stocking with fish and offer the pond as a water source heat pump for St Mary's Church
Risks:
There is no guarantee that the borehole will hit the aquifer, despite high confidence. The extraction is less than 20m cubed per day so is considered low extraction and low risks and does not need planning under TCPA, There should be limited impact on local eco systems beyond the pond but need to check downstream impacts of slightly higher flows as the pond would normally have to fill up first (WCT have indicated this is a positive), the borehole will change the ecosystem of the pond but the pond management report indicates this will be a positive impact on the ecosystem. We would need to check the impact of chalk sediment coming through the pumps into the pond. The use of the pond for a water source heat pump has risks to the visual amenity and eco-system and should be considered separately.
Costs/Resources:
PROPOSED BUDGET: 25000
CURRENT BUDGET: 25000
Ext Funding Reqd: 25000
OTHER RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS
Link to electricity via streetlight
Status:
Funded/Planning
Notes and Reports:
Housing/Development and the Local Plan
Strategic Objectives:
Environment/Community/Prosperity
Start Date:
1 October 2025
End Date:
31 March 2027
Description:
We seek to ensure that the new planning environment and subsequent development does not negatively impact Wendover and where possible we mitigate development or protect against inappropriate development. We will engage with the production of the new Bucks Council Local Plan and review the Wendover Neighbourhood Plan with a traffic management plan and focus on return of HS2 land
Benefits:
Buckinghamshire will see significant housing development and whilst Wendover will not bear the brunt of the development it will impact infrastructure and services which the Parish Council need to ensure are mitigated effectively.
Risks:
The Parish Council is not a statutory consultee in planning matters, we need to use our soft power
The neighbourhood plan is expensive and complex to review and can take longer than ideally required
HS2 land return is not in our control, including when this happens
If Halton does not close then there will be pressure for development in Wendover
Residents largely do not want new developments and we may not be able to achieve that for residents which may result in reputational damage
Costs/Resources:
TBC
Status:
Approved/Planning
Notes and Reports:
Monitor the return of land and reinstatement works for HS2
Strategic Objectives:
Environment/Community/Prosperity
Start Date:
1 September 2025
End Date:
31 December 2035
Description:
To ensure that land return and re-instatement after the HS2 project does not harm the Wendover Community and we are in a position to take any opportunities the land return will provide
Benefits:
If the return of the HS2 land is not properly managed it would impact a significant proportion of the Wendover Parish for decades to come
Risks:
Without any statutory authority and finance it may be difficult to make changes to what is planned.
Costs/Resources:
TBC
Status:
Proposed/Planning
Notes and Reports:
Securing Land as a community asset
Strategic Objectives:
Environment/Community/Prosperity
Start Date:
1 April 2025
End Date:
31 March 2035
Description:
The parish council will look to identify land in and around Wendover and secure it in the most appropriate way to ensure it becomes community space or a protected asset for the community to use.
Benefits:
Land secured will be used to ensure the ongoing visual amenity and community use and protect from development
Risks:
This is an expensive aspiration and could take significant resource and funds with little immediate apparent visible changes
Buying land with public money will need to be carefully managed and the public reassured, particularly on land values
Costs/Resources:
TBC
Status:
Proposed/Planning
Notes and Reports:
Transport and Traffic - School Campus
Strategic Objectives:
Environment/Community
Start Date:
1 June 2025
End Date:
31 March 2026
Description:
To respond to local resident concerns regarding peak hour vehicular traffic on Wharf Road related to the school campus and the uses on site. Inappropriate parking, dangerous driving and safety implications are felt by all residents and visitors to the area during weekdays in term-time.
To secure funding to undertake traffic surveys by a reputable 3rd party data collection company to inform data and evidence to understand potential future pathways to reducing impact on local residents. - Report and presentation
Benefits:
Residents and school traffic being able to use the area safely whilst respecting each others needs
Risks:
Very few other schools have managed to successfully solve similar problems so there is real risk we can not make significant benefits
Costs/Resources:
TBC
Status:
Approved/Ongoing
Notes and Reports:
Likely that recommendations and next steps will require further draw down on Transport Working Group EMR.
Playground - upgrade and equipment replacement
Strategic Objectives:
Community
Start Date:
1 April 2025
End Date:
31 March 2035
Description:
The Council is now looking to the future of the playgrounds and keeping the spaces well maintained as well as offering excitement and challenge for young people. We need to replace equipment that has been assessed a health and safety risk in our parks and to create an ongoing replacement programme for our playparks by routinely updating equipment over a 10 year cycle to constantly refresh the parks.
Benefits:
Vibrant outside spaces that young people can enjoy and the community have a sense of pride in.
Risks:
Activities undertaken by 3rd party company, with own detailed Risk Register and Insurances.
Playground equipment is expensive and there is a risk that the community feels there is money being wasted if they are not users of the space.
The spaces will need to be taken out of use during installation causing frustration
The parks may feel disjointed until the end of the first cycle of upgrades.
Doing mulitple parks spreads our resources thinly and can make the community feel we are making slow and inconsequential process"
Costs/Resources:
£30k p.a. for the first 10 year cycle
Status:
Funded/Ongoing
Notes and Reports:
Each equipment replacement will be separately tendered and installed. We simply do not have a budget to replace an entire park in one single project
Add a MUGA to the playparks
Strategic Objectives:
Community
Start Date:
1 September 2025
End Date:
31 March 2029
Description:
Create a Multi Use Games Area
Benefits:
It expands the number of activities that positively occupy young people
Risks:
This is another capital build that will require funding which may not be as forthcoming after our build of the skatepark
It may also raise additional concerns about the amount of space taken up in the park and anti-social behaviour that we saw with the skate park
Costs/Resources:
TBC
Status:
Proposed/Planniing
Notes and Reports:
Skatepark
Strategic Objectives:
Community
Start Date:
1 March 2023
End Date:
31 December 2025
Description:
The contractor will tender for the design and build of a concrete skate park in Wendover including the design, supply, and installation of all equipment with a total value not exceeding £120,000 ex Vat.
works shall include:
a) Design and Build of a concrete skate park according to the design brief
b) Full design including designs for presentation purposes.
c) Full site clearance, construction, site supervision and project management
d) Supply and installation of appropriate drainage
e) Supply and installation of appropriate signage
f) Supply and installation of all equipment and site furniture
g) Hard and soft landscaping works as included in the design
h) Site access and reinstatement works
i) Provision of necessary CDM regulations provisions
j) Preparation and submission of any necessary plans or documentation
Plans based on open spaces survey which identified the need for a facility that caters for teenagers and young adults. The Skatepark was opened in Jul 2025 but there are some minor snagging activities planned
Benefits:
Vibrant outside spaces where slightly older children have a sense of ownership and can physically challenge themselves in a safe environment.
Risks:
Reputational issues around skate parks need to be addressed in the design brief. Need and location will be challenged and the open spaces survey should be referenced in any public communication.
BS EN 14974:2019 (Skate parks - safety requirements and test methods) shall be adhered to during the design process and the scheme will need to pass the appropriate ROSPA inspection upon completion. Any non-conformities to the standards must be highlighted to the client for consideration and approval. The independent post installation inspection will be arranged by the contractor and the cost met by them.
Costs/Resources:
£120k
Status:
Complete/Finished
Notes and Reports:
Click here for project information and progress
Click Here for site plan
Click Here for construction access
War Memorial
Strategic Objectives:
Community
Start Date:
1 September 2025
End Date:
31 December 2026
Description:
Clean, repair and preserve the war memorial for future generations
Benefits:
Preservation of a culturally and historically significant landmark. The war memorial is part of the character of the high street and is important to many local families
Risks:
Repairs if not correctly undertaken could cause more damage than good
Cleaning methodology could create damage to memorial so a qualified company should undertake work
Repair costs could spiral if there is a poor initial inspection and assessment
War memorial could collapse/fail and cause injury and damage to the manor waste
Costs/Resources:
TBC
Status:
Approved/Ongoing
Notes and Reports:
The Memorial is looked after by Wendover Parish Council and in late 2025 was cleaned to reveal some remedial works that were required. The Portland cement used in the grouting was causing issues with reactions with the stone and not being porous was causing deterioration around the joins. A broken finial was metal pinned and resin bonded back to the lantern. The rest of the lantern had old grout dug out and was re grouted with a lime putty mixed with Portland stone dust to match in. There were some additional cracks repaired with pins and resin. We now await report about non-urgent works that will help preserve the memorial for decades to come.
Street Light Switch Off
Strategic Objectives:
Environment
Start Date:
1 August 2025
End Date:
31 March 2028
Description:
To review and implement turning streetlights off when not needed
Benefits:
turning off the streetlights reduces energy consumption which will reduce Council costs, reduced light pollution has a beneficial impact on wildlife and humans, in particular it should be noted the requests we get for light shields due to lights causing sleep disruptions. It was further noted that in areas where lights had been switched off there had been no increase in crime or Anti Social Behaviour, and in some cases, there had been a reduction.
Risks:
The biggest risks are increse in crime and accidents, also being able to recover the costs of changing the lighting systems. Evidence tends to show there is no additional risk (with some counter evidence in the public domain) there is a clear risk of the increase of fear of crime amongst residents.
Costs/Resources:
c £20k but with ongoing electricity saving
Status:
Proposed
Notes and Reports:
We have held a survey looking into preferences of PNL options and tendered for the work to identify implementation costs. So are currently at the fesibility stage. When we have analysed the survey results and the tender costs we will recommend to Council whether to continue with this project.