A leading councillor says Bucks-based politicians will continue to speak out against concerns that HS2 construction trucks will plough through ‘unsuitable’ roads.

If fears are realised, traffic going in and out of future construction sites could cause substantial traffic delays and interfere with key ambulance routes across the county.

Wycombe District Council leader, Katrina Wood, helped present evidence against proposals for HS2 construction traffic to use routes through Wycombe District at a Select Committee meeting last month.

She said: “We’re doing our bit to deliver against Government housing targets to potentially build 15,000 new homes and to contribute to the local economy and our own housing needs.

“All that means more vehicles on the local road network - but if you add thousands of HS2 lorry journeys into this mix, our local roads simply won’t be able cope.”

Her comments come after it was revealed that HS2 Ltd will not use the A40 through West Wycombe as a specified construction route – a move campaigners have hailed a “partial victory”.

The lobbying group will continue to raise concerns, however. Although the A40 is not specified as a construction route, some vehicles (up to 24 HGVs per day) could still use the A40 through West Wycombe for journeys to and from site compounds.

The council is also continuing to press HS2 to carry out a technical appraisal in order to properly explore using alternatives to the A4010.

Cllr Katrina Wood, Leader of Wycombe District Council told the Select Committee that congestion on the A4010 – which is the district’s main route for emergency ambulances to take people to Stoke Mandeville hospital – could have ‘serious consequences’ in a life threatening situation.