A major Bucks A-road will not be closed over two weekends for HS2 works after the plans were thrown out.

Buckinghamshire Council refused to give HS2 contractor Align permission for a full closure of the A413 at Little Missenden, from the Keepers Lane junction to just past Pipers Wood Lane between April 16 and 19, and from April 23-26.

HS2 said the closure would be to divert and install utilities such as water, electricity and telecoms, as part of the Little Missenden vent shaft site construction.

They said diversions would be in place, with residents and drivers pre-warned about the closure and emergency vehicles not impacted as their access would be “managed through the worksite”.

But Bucks Council said it could not give the plans the go-ahead because of the lack of a “comprehensive” mitigation plan to address the “likely volume of displaced traffic and the associated impacts” of the closure.

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A spokesman said: “The council is of the view that insufficient detailed investigation has been undertaken into alternative options to retain traffic movements on the A413, at least in one direction.

“We will continue to work with Align and HS2 Limited on both the mitigation plan, the need for better and more widespread publicity, as well as an alternative option that allows the A413 to continue to be used whilst work is taking place in the area.”

An HS2 spokesman said: “We are currently working with Buckinghamshire Council to agree the safest and least impactful way to deliver our works, including a mitigation plan for closures of the A413.

“We will come back out to residents with these plans and dates of impact.”