Residents fighting against a new motorway junction in their back gardens say they have been “left in limbo” by the looming development threat –18 months after it was first mooted.

Villagers have this week hit out against the lack of information surrounding the possibility of an M40 junction ‘3A’ between Flackwell Heath and Loudwater, with the council recently suggesting there were no “live plans”.

However, authorities have refused to rule out the possibility of a new junction being built in the next two decades, and with a Highways England study still underway, concerned campaigners say they feel powerless.

Family-run equestrian centre Cobbles Farm has been in the area since 1983 and were left devastated last year after talk of a new motorway junction running through their property were mooted in Wycombe District Council’s Local Plan discussions.

Owner Pat Curtis said: “I’ve read and heard that it could happen in 15 years, it could happen in 20 years, but that doesn’t help us at all – we’re in complete limbo.”

“We can’t make improvements to our business or our home because 10 years down the line we could have a compulsory purchase order on our priorities.

“It grounds you down and it feels like they believe if they keep it going on for long enough we will give up the ghost, but that won’t happen.

“People keep saying there is nothing to report, but while it continues to be looming in the background, the more we are left in limbo.”

She added that she has been left “anxious” by the amount of money WDC have “ploughed” into the planning behind the junction and feels it has not adequately considered alternative options.

Original plans for the proposed junction – which could cost between £15 million and £30 million – suggested a number of potential routes and could be built on Spring Lane or Abbey Barn Lane.

Campaigners have argued that the infrastructure in the surrounding neighbourhoods would not be able to cope with the influx of traffic using the new junction.

Ryemead Forum chairman and former WDC councillor, Trevor Snaith, has also argued against the need of a junction between Loudwater and Handy Cross.

He said: “With all the ongoing developments and big changes needed with the infrastructure, it will have a big impact on the dynamics of the whole town.

“Junction 3a is not where they need to put a motorway junction. They need to look at more options.

The whole of the east side of Wycombe will be in limbo until they say yes or no.”

Highways England has commissioned a report looking at improving access to High Wycombe from the M40 in partnership with WDC and Bucks County Council, with a report due to be finished this year.

WDC spokesman Sue Robison said: “Whilst we expect this to look at the Junction 3a idea, it will also look at other options for improving access to High Wycombe. This is not expected to report before Christmas. For this reason there are no firm or immediate plans for Junction 3a at this point.”