Major plans to stop anti-social parking near Bucks beauty spots and parks has caused outrage - with one church claiming it could have to close because of the impact it will have on weddings, funerals and congregations.

During lockdown, the county's open spaces and country parks have become even busier than usual - which has brought with it a number of complaints about visitors parking in nearby roads.

Fifty roads could have restrictions put in place in a bid to stop bad parking and to keep pedestrians safe - but the plans, by Transport for Bucks, have not been well-received by all.

Roads around areas like Burnham Beeches, Wendover Woods, Farnham Common, Black Park, Dorney Lake and Langley Park could all have double yellow lines or permit restrictions put in place to clamp down on the issues.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) for St James the Less in Dorney has been left outraged by the plans to introduce double yellow lines in Court Lane, near Dorney Lake - saying it will have a major effect on their congregation.

Urging residents and neighbours to support them, they fear new controls will "severely hamper" access to the church and could "decimate" its congregation numbers and its ability to hold weddings, funerals and baptisms - ultimately forcing its closure after 800 years.

There used to be "occasional" anti-social parking when there were unofficial gatherings at nearby Dorney Lake, but they claim this has stopped since the lake was closed.

Speaking on behalf of the PCC, Paul Humpleman said: “To continue the successful functioning of the church it is vital that we continue to have unrestricted parking with adequate space for church goers and visitors to continue to access the church for tending graves, memorials, funerals, weddings, baptisms, and normal church services.

"If parking is restricted, it will have a catastrophic impact on our church, which will probably result in it closing.

"Dorney church is very much part of the local heritage as a functioning church; serving and supporting the local community and its interests must be protected."

The Revd. La Stacey, vicar for St James the Less Dorney added: “The number of cars for which parking is needed at any one time can vary hugely, depending on whether the occasion is bell ringing practice, or a wedding with over 100 guests arriving.

"There is no need for particular bays for ‘unloading’ outside the graveyard as put forward in council proposals– this is an unusable concept for a funeral, for example, or for a grave-digger.

"A funeral and burial can last anything from half an hour to two and a half hours. There are no set times when services can happen, or when visiting to the church or churchyard can happen, and to put these in would severely restrict the use of the church.

“Nor is there any way that we can know who is going to turn up, so any form of giving out permits for church users would also be unusable. There are no other sites in the village where parking can take place, so there is no possible system where church-users (many of whom have limited mobility) can be dropped off, and the driver of the car go and park elsewhere.

“We want to be clear - we must have continued unrestricted access as has existed for over 800 years to thrive and indeed, survive.”

Other roads that could be affected include Black Park Road, near Langley Park and Black Park, Blackpond Lane, Crow Piece Lane and Crown Lane near Burnham Beeches and Farnham Common and Chivery, Chalkshire Road and Buckland Road near Wendover Woods.

There are around 50 different roads that could have restrictions added - such as parking permits or double yellow lines.

The council says the restrictions would help avoid danger for people and other traffic and for preserving the amenities of the area.

You can have your say on the plans now at yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/roads-parking/areas-near-to-natural-beauty-and-country-parks/

Here is the full list of roads that could be affected.

Burnham Beeches/Farnham Common area:

  • Access to Old Telephone Exchange off Kingsway
  • Bedford Drive
  • Beeches Road
  • Blackpond Lane
  • Crow Piece Lane
  • Crown Lane
  • Curriers Lane
  • Egypt Lane
  • Frensham Walk
  • Golden Oak Close
  • Green Lane, Farnham Common
  • Green Lane, Burnham Beeches
  • Grove Road
  • Hawthorn Lane
  • Hill Place
  • Kingsway
  • Langtons Meadow
  • Lord Mayors Drive
  • Nightingale Park
  • Park Lane
  • Pumpkin Hill
  • Rosewood Way
  • Scotlands Drive
  • Stewarts Drive
  • Thompkins Lane
  • Victoria Road

Black Park area:

  • Alderbourne Lane
  • Black Park Road
  • Cherry Tree Lane
  • Coronation Avenue
  • Denham Country Park area:
  • Denham Court Drive
  • Fulmer Common Road
  • George Green Road
  • Pinewood Road
  • Rowley Lane
  • Stoke Common Road
  • Uxbridge Road
  • Wexham Park Lane

Dorney Lake area:

  • Boveney Road
  • Common Road
  • Court Lane
  • Dorney Reach Road
  • Harcourt Close
  • Harcourt Road
  • Lake End Road
  • Lock Path
  • Marsh Lane
  • Meadow Way
  • Oak Stubbs Lane
  • South Field Close
  • Village Road

Great Brickhill Village:

  • Cuff Lane
  • Duck End
  • Heath Road

Langley Park area:

  • Alan Way
  • Avenue Drive
  • Bellswood Lane
  • Blackpark Road
  • Billet Lane
  • Blinco Lane
  • Coronation Avenue
  • George Green Road
  • Middle Green
  • Uxbridge Road
  • Wexham Park Lane
  • Withy Croft

Medmenham Village:

  • Ferry Lane
  • Henley Road

Pitstone Quarry:

  • Northfield Road
  • Upper Icknield Way
  • Westfield Road

Wendover Woods area:

  • Aston Hill Chivery
  • Buckland Road
  • Chalkshire Road
  • Chivery
  • Diners Hill
  • Dunsmore
  • Dunsmore Lane
  • Ellesborough Road, Butlers Cross
  • Ellesborough Road, Wendover
  • Fox Lane
  • Grenville Avenue
  • Hale Lane
  • Halton Lane
  • Hill Farm Lane
  • Lodge Hill
  • London Road
  • Missenden Road
  • Moor Park
  • Wendover Road
  • Willowbrook