Resident warns crossing will cause chaos

6:28pm Wednesday 13th August 2008

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A NEW pedestrian crossing will cause a main route through High Wycombe to grind to a standstill, a resident has warned.

Steve Conn, 48, is angry that council officials are proposing to build a pedestrian refuge on London Road, near the junction with Bassetsbury Lane.

Dr Conn, of nearby Deangarden Rise, said: "They sent a letter to some businesses but nothing to the residents of the local area explaining they wanted to put in another pedestrian crossing.

"I've spoken to my neighbours. No one has received anything about it.

"My wife works at a business and brought home a letter to show me."

Buckinghamshire County Council and Wycombe District Council have commissioned a new pedestrian refuge and uncontrolled crossing point.

In the letter developers Jacobs said: "It is intended that the new proposals will improve the safety of pedestrians crossing London Road at this location, and it is also hoped the speed of traffic may be reduced by these proposals."

Dr Conn, a senior telecoms manager, who has lived in the street for 22 years, said: "They now have plans for 450 houses on the sewer works. It doesn't make any sense at all. Where is the traffic going to go?

"There's only so much the council can do to the London Road before it's a complete standstill all of the time. There seems to be no joined up work between the housing side of the district council and the transport planning."

Dr Conn said on one occasion it had taken two hours to travel two-and-a-half miles from his home to junction 3 of the M40.

He added: "I understand that safety might be an issue but I am not sure who would cross there unless people come out of the Ford garage and go to the cricket ground all of the time.

"I've done a lot of communication planning so I understand it's important to get various points of view not what they think people want."

Catherine Spalton, spokesman for Wycombe District Council, said: "A while ago Buckinghamshire County Council conducted a full audit of the walking routes of Wycombe.

"It was identified that there was a lack of crossing points on London Road."

Buckinghamshire County Council local area co-ordinator Si Khan said the scheme was being introduced following concerns from residents.

She said: "We wrote to everyone in Bassetsbury Lane and in London Road in that vicinity.

"I am sorry he feels he wasn't consulted. If he feels strongly about it we are happy for him to write in and we will look at his comment."

Feedback is currently being considered ahead of a decision, she added.