A parent from West Wycombe has launched a community treasure hunt designed to boost footfall in local shops after a loss of business caused by a two-month roadworks project.

The National Trust began an eight-week repair programme on the village High Street at the beginning of July, with parking restrictions, barriers and a traffic control system expected to remain in place until September 2.

Local independent businesses The Apple Orchard and Troutts Butchers both pointed to the parking suspensions in particular as disruptive to normal business, with café owner Amit Sisodia telling the Free Press he “didn’t understand” why the trust had chosen to begin the works over the summer holidays – “the busiest time of the year (for us), which we usually rely on to cover our losses”.

All hope is not lost, however. In a touching gesture of community spirit, Susie Chester, a committee chair at West Wycombe preschool, has decided to expand the school's annual day-long school treasure hunt to a whopping six weeks, with a trail that takes its followers up and down the High Street and into many of the shops and restaurants impacted by the roadworks.

Susie's children, Freya and Summer (Image: Susie Chester)

She said: “We really just wanted to give back to the community in some way. This has turned out to be a great thing all around because a few of the businesses have donated prizes and a local printing company gave us the maps to hand out free of charge.”

As a West Wycombe resident herself, Susie has seen the impact of the roadworks first-hand – especially noticing the stark lack of on-street parking and drop-in day-trippers.

“It’s a lovely High Street, but it’s not the kind of place people just happen upon unless they’ve planned it. It has been a tough few weeks for the local businesses because if there wasn’t parking in the village and people driving through, they wouldn’t exist.

“The treasure hunt is just £3 for entry and takes a good few hours but we’ve had wonderful feedback from the families who have done it – we tried our best to make it fun for the kids and there are such amazing views around here.

“I’ve already seen people who I don’t recognise walking around who have obviously come from further afield. They’ll be going into these shops for the first time and discovering everything that’s so great about the village. We’re bringing back that tourist-y feel.”

For more information, visit https://shorturl.at/q6XUJ.