Agenda item

  • Petition – A40: Darren Hayday to present the response from Transport for Bucks.
  • Petition – Bar Lane: Cllr Bill Bendyshe-Brown to present the response from Transport for Bucks.
  • Question Time: To respond to questions received.

 

Minutes:

Darren Hayday, Buckinghamshire Councillor for West Wycombe, introduced the A40 Studley Green petition report.  The online petition, signed by 1,768 people, had been set up by a constituent following the death of two cyclists near Piddington in June 2020.   Following investigations by Transport for Bucks(TfB) and the Police and site visits the following options for potential safety improvement measures included:

 

  • Reducing the speed limit from West Wycombe to Studley Green to 50 mph.
  • Install cyclists warning signs on both approaches to Dashwood Hill.
  • Encouraging cyclists to use Old Dashwood Hill.
  • Install a west bound on road advisory cycle lane.
  • Permanent closure of footway at Dashwood Hill.
  • Remove the tree canopy on Dashwood Hill.

 

Darren advised the Transport and Road Issue sub-group had requested clarification on whether the permanent closure of the footway would leave the stretch open from the bottom of Old Dashwood Hill, past Ham Farm to West Wycombe. 

ACTION:  Jackie Binning

 

Darren requested the following be considered to progress the petition further:

 

  • The CB to request an urgent maintenance job to cut back the tree canopy to improve the visibility on Old Dashwood Hill and the junction of the road leading up to Chipps Hill.
  • The CB to consider the possibility of installing average speed cameras between Studley Green and Piddington; they were costly but would deter speeding. 

 

Bill Bendyshe-Brown stated that the sub-group had considered and supported the proposal and recommended the CB take it forward to TfB and the Police for progression.

 

Jim Stevens highlighted that TfB was considering putting in an advisory cycle lane on the A40.  He also mentioned that the Government had issued a new cycling policy and that it would be useful for Transport for Bucks (TfB) to see the guidance. 

 

RESOLVED:  The Community Board unanimously AGREED the following recommendations be taken forward to Buckinghamshire Council, Transport for Bucks and the Police:

 

  • The speed limit along Oxford Road between West Wycombe and Studley Green is reduced to 50 mph (if supported at public consultation).
  • Cyclist warning signs are installed at Dashwood Hill
  • A feasibility into installing an on road advisory cycle lane for west bound cyclists be undertaken
  • The existing narrow footway along Dashwood Hill be permanently closed.
  • The CB to request an urgent maintenance job to cut back the tree canopy.

·       It was also requested that TfB urgently cut the back of the hedge foliage and vegetation overgrowth which is encroaching onto the length of the A40 footway between the Chipps Hill junction and the Old Dashwood Hill junction.

  • The CB to consider the possibility of installing average speed cameras between Studley Green and Piddington; they were costly but would deter speeding. 
  • That Transport for Bucks be informed of the new Government cycling guidance.

 

 

Bar Lane junction with Thame Road, Longwick Petition Report

Bill Bendyshe-Brown reported that there had been a series of accidents, but no fatalities, at the junction due to insufficient signage.  TfB had erected more signage and repainted the white lines but were unable to do more without a formal request.  The sub-group had discussed the issue and recommended the CB ask TfB to carry out a feasibility study to include cutting back the vegetation and possibly installing rumble strips.  The junction visibility issue had also been discussed by the subgroup and agreed that consideration should be given to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to enable a proper vision splay to be achieved.

 

RESOLVED:  The Community Board unanimously AGREED to ask Transport for Bucks to carry out a feasibility study at the Bar Lane junction with Thame Road.

 

Question Time

Liz Charleston stated she often cycled from Hughenden Valley into High Wycombe but found it was very dangerous and asked if there were any plans to install a cycle path along the route.  The footpath was not well used and it could be a shared space.  Jackie advised that TfB were aware of Liz’s request via Fix My Street but had no plans at the moment and recommended Liz obtained local support/raised a petition and bring it back to the board.  Cllr Steve Broadbent reported he had been involved in the Wycombe District Council draft transport strategy and that some background work had been carried out which would be worth looking at. There was also a plan, with a budget, to build a cycle path from Hughenden Park to the Rye but the status was unknown but worth pursuing.  It was agreed that a proposal would be well supported by the CB.

Supporting documents: