A HALF-MILLION-POUND project that will see temporary travel schemes introduced to several areas across the county to support more walking and cycling has hit its first bump in the road.

Julian Mason, 48, of Lower Road, in Gerrards Cross branded the council initiative “a pointless waste of tax money”, arguing residents in the area “were not consulted” on plans to install a series of planters in Lower Road and South Park “from early August”.

Mr Mason went on to say the travel scheme was “rushed”, will cause congestion, and there is no local appetite for it because “it blocks easy access to the A413 which leads to the M25”.

He said he only sees three cars an hour drive past his house, adding the only time Lower Road is busy is during the school run to St Mary’s School on Packhorse Road.

Mr Mason’s firm stance is in response to a letter from Buckinghamshire Council sent to residents in his area on July 20, notifying them a series of decorative planters will be installed in Lower Road and South Park “early” this month.

It is part of a wider set of plans to transform public highways in towns across Buckinghamshire to support more walking and cycling as people return to work and leisure activities “as lockdown restrictions gradually ease”.

Read more: Major changes to six Bucks towns could be coming – here’s what to expect

Buckinghamshire Council was awarded a £514,000 Emergency Active Travel Fund by the Department for Transport (DfT), for a series of “temporary active travel schemes” across Buckinghamshire to be implemented “over the next two months”.

The council said this is “the first set of schemes” it is introducing, according to its website.

Areas of focus will be Amersham, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Chalfont St Peter to Gerrards Cross, Haddenham, and later Buckingham and Marlow.

The impact will mean works to roads and foot and cycleways, junction closures, new one-way systems, and redirection of traffic.

“This is a waste of money as normally there is only about three cars an hour that pass my front door,” said Mr Mason. “This number of cars is no risk to cyclists and walkers who I rarely see.

“The council has not asked anyone in Lower Road if we want these planters. Nobody wants it as it blocks easy access to the A413 which leads to the M25.

“The only time Lower Road is busy is during the school run. About 400 girls are dropped off at the rear entrance of St Mary’s School. If Lower Road is blocked, all cars will be diverted to the B416 which is the main and only busy road in Gerrards Cross. This will cause congestion when they turn into North Park Road past the old people’s home.

“These planters will inconvenience the residents, it is a pointless waste of tax money, the residents were not consulted, the project is rushed, and it will cause congestion on the only busy road in Gerrards Cross.”

Mr Mason told the Free Press the council is installing the decorative planters “to avoid losing funding from the Department of Transport”. The council does say there is a deadline for this fund.

A letter seen by this paper does suggest disruption of traffic as “modal filters” are installed in Lower Road and South Park to create a “quietway”.

It states walkers and cyclists can pass through, but traffic will “…be redirected to the A413, making the route safer and more attractive…”.

Residents and businesses will still have access to properties “via other local roads”.

The planters will be at:

  • Lower Road – south of the junction to Chiltern Hill
  • Lower Road – south of the junction to Claydon Lane
  • Lower Road – north of the junction to South Park
  • South Park – north of the junction to Oak End Way

A temporary closure between the A413 Amersham Road exit and South Park will be in place.

Read more: Pandemic is ‘new normal’ as Buckinghamshire Council moves forward with local plan

A spokesperson for Buckinghamshire Council said: “As well as helping to support walking and cycling trips, we hope the trial will deliver a better neighbourhood for local residents by diverting rat running traffic onto suitable routes.

“We are writing to local residents in all towns and villages where we are looking to introduce these temporary measures to encourage cycling and walking, and have written to residents immediately affected by the Chalfont St Peter to Gerrards Cross scheme.

“All schemes within this programme are temporary trials only and part of the evaluation of these trials will be ongoing engagement with residents.”

It added if these temporary schemes “don’t work they will be removed”.

Buckinghamshire Council said it has received feedback both in support and against the proposals, including “mixed views on current traffic conditions on Lower Road”.

For details and to give feedback, click here.