Meeting documents

Jack Mayhew (Lead Growth and Strategy Officer) and Andy MacDougall (Senior Infrastructure Co-ordinator), Bucks County Council.

Jack Mayhew (Lead Growth and Strategy Officer0 and Andy MacDougall (Senior Infrastructure Co-ordinator) attended representing Bucks County Council. Jack Mayhew reported that he had been working with the Parish Council and other Members for three to four years to obtain a comprehensive picture of transport in the Ivers, which had been impacted by major projects such as Pinewood.

Andy MacDougall reported that he was responsible for monitoring the Section 106 agreements. In terms of traffic monitoring a trigger had been activated which meant that a footway/cycleway needed to be installed and works would be carried out on this at the end of April 2019 and Local Members were aware of the Scheme. A press release on this was issued early this week and advance signage would be used to inform road users of this work.

Concern had been raised as to why the road infrastructure had not been addressed earlier with the expansion of Pinewood. Matthew Wright explained that a tender had been submitted in 2015/16 to undertaken work to modify Five Points Roundabout and towards the end of the legal process they had been asked to stop because of local opposition. However, the original planning application has now lapsed and it would require a new planning application to be submitted for any future work to be carried out. Since then alternative options had been investigated such as widening Seven Hills Road and the two schemes were being analysed using various traffic data from Vecsos. Each Scheme had advantages and disadvantages. There were other material considerations not just traffic. Pinewood would pay for whichever Scheme was considered the best option with the Seven Hill Road Scheme being the most expensive. Information on the Schemes had been submitted to the Director of Services at South Bucks District Council and a response was awaited.

Andy MacDougall reported that the Seven Hill Road could be widened as Bucks County Council owned the land around it. Matthew Wright commented that some residents had used the verge to extend their gardens when the land belonged to the Highway Authority and they were told to remove the planting. In terms of the new layout for Seven Hills Road, there would need to be a slip road on the left and two lanes with one turning right. Pinewood would need to obtain planning permission. The Five Points Roundabout Scheme had previously been a committed scheme associated with the expansion works and had been included in the draft Local Plan. A representative commented that there were haulage businesses along Seven Hills Road and that each Scheme would benefit/disadvantage others.

A representative asked whether a Park and Ride Scheme had been considered. Andrew Smith reported that they already had a new bus service running from Pinewood to Gerrards Cross and with Crossrail were looking at a service from Langley. The shuttle bus service was well used and open to residents. Andrew Smith also reported that they were trialling having the barriers up at Pinewood so that employees did not have to swipe their card to get in to help the traffic flow. A representative also referred to the impact of accidents on M25 and traffic using the A412 and M4 instead.

The Chairman thanked Bucks County Council for their update.