A WORRIED pensioner is appealing for buses to stop using a High Wycombe town centre road as a "rat run" as he believes it is causing a danger to the public.

James Chamberlen, 74, of Stonefield Road, High Wycombe, has complained to Buckinghamshire County Council about buses using Church Street.

He said: "Buses are a very serious hazard to pedestrians in such a crowded area."

"Permitting the route to be used as a rat run simply because it is shorter than the alternative route, is not a reason for permitting buses to race through the pedestrian area, putting pedestrians and children at considerable risk of injury and death, particularly as the buses do not even stop to pick up passengers."

Mr Chamberlen has had some success in his attempt to make Church Street safer by helping to persuade the council to erect bollards on the street.

Mr Chamberlen believes the buses should be re-routed through Abbey Way and Queen Victoria Road.

A spokeswoman from Buckinghamshire County Council said: "We have got to look at our transport strategy for each area with a view to congestion.

"We've got to get people out of cars and into buses so the buses have to take them where they want to go and Church Street is essential to that."

January 21, 2003 10:00