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Consultation on Freight Traffic
Buckinghamshire Council has announced a major public consultation seeking local views on proposed measures to reduce the number of heavy vehicles using unsuitable country roads in our area.
The routes through Chearsley would be amongst those to benefit if these measures are adopted.
The consultation runs from 8 January to 17 February and full details are available from Bucks Council at:
https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/roads-parking/waddesdon-area-freight-zone-consultation/
In summary it comprises:
Background information on why it is necessary to reduce freight traffic and the measures proposed to do so.
Two drop-in public events to find out more about the scheme and share your views. Both at:
Ashendon Village Hall, on
Wednesday 17 Jan 2024, 1.00pm to 8.00pm, and
Saturday 27 Jan 2024, 10.00am to 5.00pm
(Address: Main Street, Ashendon, HP18 0HB. Easy parking)
A short survey for individuals, Parish Councils and businesses in the area seeking views on the proposed approach. Available at:
Key Details of the Proposals
Further background information is provided by Bucks Council here. In summary:
> An area of Buckinghamshire roads, termed the Waddesdon Area Freight Zone, will be designated using a Traffic Regulation Order as unavailable for use by vehicles over 7.5 tons unless they have business to conduct within the zone
> The Zone is defined as the area which is: South of the A41 Aylesbury to Bicester road, East of the B4011 Bicester to Thame road, North of the A418 Thame to Aylesbury road and West of Rabans Lane in Aylesbury.
> The proposals will reduce, not eliminate, heavy vehicles from our country roads. An analysis based on January 2022 ANPR data from all 12 entry points to the zone showed 35% of traffic over 7.5 tons going straight through without stopping. 40% was identified as stopping, leaving 25% of movements as indeterminate, some of which almost certainly added to the straight through total. It is this straight through traffic that the proposed measures seek to eliminate.
> Traffic banned from entering the zone will be routed via the boundary A and B roads. This will not lead to any significant increase in traffic on those roads.
> Enforcement of the Zone will be by both Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Council which was given enforcement powers in 2022 and has established a Moving Traffic Offences team.
Chearsley Parish Council contribution
The Parish Council has played a leading role since 2017 in lobbying on behalf of Chearsley residents for measures to reduce freight traffic on routes through the village, and has been actively involved in the development of the current proposals. We strongly urge everyone in the village to complete the survey. It takes only a few minutes and a strong response will improve the chance of the proposals being implemented.
(Note: paper copies of the background material and survey will also be made available)