A RELIEF road for Beaconsfield Old Town could be a step nearer to reality after an official request for the route to be included in the government’s HS2 project.
Beaconsfield Town Council has contacted Bucks County Council voicing concern over the volume of traffic the high speed rail line’s proposed construction would create in the town.
And within days of writing, members received assurance that BCC would include the request for relief road funding on a mitigation blueprint due to be submitted to the government.
Calls for a relief road have been growing in recent years, and the possible large-scale development of nearby Wilton Park is already earmarked for the site of the new bypass.
Councillor Alan Walters said: "We asked BCC that if HS2 is actually going to go ahead, can we get some money towards the relief road.
"The reply was very supportive and they are already well aware of the need for it, and the money could be made available as part of a Wilton Park relief road.
"They are now going to put it on their blueprint document, so it’s very encouraging that our letter actually did something."
Councillors are worried that lorries and plant equipment will use the already congested route from junction 2 of the M40 to the A355, which runs through the Old Town.
Cllr Matt Denyer warned of the danger of hinging the project solely on the Wilton Park project, which he said may not go ahead for years, if at all, given plans are still in their early stages.
Mayor Sandy Saunders stressed the volume of traffic coming through the town both ways would be huge, with building materials going up to the route and excavated material coming back.
Though the route of the government’s controversial £42billion rail link is not yet finalised it is predicted Beaconsfield will be a likely thoroughfare for works vehicles heading to Amersham, where a tunnel portal is planned.
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