A popular park dubbed the “jewel in High Wycombe’s crown” is set to house a huge construction work compound as a major roadworks project in the town centre gets underway – prompting serious concerns over safety, pollution and contamination. 

A highway depot looks set to open up on The Rye – close to a children’s play area visited by hundreds of families every week, a nursery and the tourist attraction Pann Mill, as well as the River Wye - and stay there until April next year as phase five of the town centre masterplan gets underway in the summer. 

The £3.7 million phase of the controversial masterplan, which planners say will “transform” High Wycombe, will see Queen Victoria Road and Easton Street reverted to two-way traffic to ease congestion. 

The proposed compound will measure around 40 metres by 80 metres, with two-metre high hoarding around it and will be housed on the main pedestrian route through The Rye, according to Cllr Marten Clarke. 

Jackie Kay, chairman of the High Wycombe Society, said people have shared fears about the risk the depot proposes to the environment. 

Cllr Clarke added that “fuel, hazardous chemicals and all sorts” will also be stored in the compound. Ms Kay said: “If there are risks associated with it, what is being done to protect the environment?

“It is on the approach to The Rye – it is not just a question of the unsightliness of it, but is it going to be doing any damage? 

“People have expressed fears to me about pollution, soil compaction and possible contamination of the water in the River Wye.”

Cllr Julia Wassell, who is county councillor for the area, said she was “very unhappy” that she had not been given information about the controversial depot. 

She said: “I don’t think The Rye is the best location for it. I will be making representations for the compound to be located closer to where the works will be done. 

“It seems highly inappropriate at this time of year to be putting a depot on the jewel in the crown of High Wycombe. I don’t want it there and I will be telling somebody about that.”

The town centre masterplan is a collaborative project between Wycombe District Council, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership, Local Growth Fund and Buckinghamshire County Council aimed at overhauling High Wycombe.