A WELL-USED underpass along High Wycombe’s heritage trail that has been flooded with stagnant - and possibly contaminated - water and mounds of rubbish has still not been fixed, despite promises that it would be back in service in June.
The pedestrian underpass which runs under Abbey Way is well-used by parents and young children as well as cyclists heading to and from the town centre and The Rye - but is submerged under metres of water - and has been since at least December last year.
The dirty water is filled with cigarette butts and rubbish has been piling up for months, including beer cans, takeaway wrappers and carrier bags.
The underpass forms part of the High Wycombe Heritage Trail which takes in key sites around the town.
Despite promises from Bucks County Council that a faulty pump in the underpass would be fixed by the end of June, it is still submerged - and the water is deeper than ever after periods of flash flooding and heavy downpours.
Complaints about the underpass have been reported in the Bucks Free Press as far back as 2002, when parents feared the flooding could lead to the death of a child.
Cllr Julia Wassell has said the subway would be better used for another purpose - and suggested it could even be gated-off with waxwork figures inside, like the popular Hellfire Caves in West Wycombe.
But Bucks County Council says it has no plans to remove the subway.
Mark Averill, head of highways, said: “Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) is aware of the flooding issues in the Abbey Way Subway, High Wycombe, and is working with a specialist pump company to work to resolve the flooding.
“Before re-opening the subway, we will need to undertake a complete pressure wash of the subway – ramps, railings, walls, floors etc.
“In addition to this, we will also need to sanitise the structure due to the stagnant – and possibly contaminated – water that has been present in the subway for a while.
“We have already lined up a cleaning supply chain partner to help us with these tasks, but we must address the pump issues before this.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the ongoing work here.
“There are no plans to remove the subway.”
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