Wendover HS2 Mitigation Action Group, April 2023
Ellesborough Road diversion
The most visible sign of progress in March has been the erection of the “Bailey bridge” for the diversion of Ellesborough Road (top photo).
Noting the importance of the road to the local community, Parliament directed HS2 to create a temporary diversion route behind the remaining cottages to allow traffic to flow during the construction of the Green Tunnel. The diversion is expected to open in July and be in place for about two years to allow excavation of the cutting through the existing road. The cutting will be used as a “Haul Road” for dump trucks moving spoil north from Small Dean to Stoke Mandeville. After installation of the concrete tunnel shell, the ground will be backfilled and the road reopened on its original track.
More road closures
Tying the diversion road into the existing Ellesborough Road has involved about four weeks of closures for excavation to identify the utility services that will need to be repositioned. We can expect further closures when the actual diversion works take place. Similarly, there will be night time and weekend closures on the A413 until July to shift the road eastwards enabling the safe construction of a viaduct pier at Small Dean next to the railway line. We’ve complained about the inadequate and misleading signage at both sites affecting commuters, and have requested roadside notification of active night A413 closures at Great Missenden to enable motorists to avoid the Small Dean area. Traffic lights on the A413 and the bypass have also led to congestion in central Wendover during morning rush hours.
Green Tunnel preparations
The Environment Agency are still not permitting any significant excavation of the Green Tunnel cutting due to the potential impact on the Coombe Hill Aquifer, and we have sought an assurance through our MP that this will continue. However, we understand that HS2 will be allowed to strip the topsoil and the diggers and dump trucks are scheduled to start “bulk earthworks” in May. HS2 have also applied to have extended working hours (7am to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 5pm on Saturdays). We expect Bucks Council will agree to this, in line with their previous decision at Great Missenden. We are concerned about the noise levels involved, and plan to undertake test measurements with HS2.
Help from HS2?
In addition to resolving your complaints, if you think HS2 can help with a social value project in the Wendover area please contact the HS2 Helpdesk team on 08081 434 434 (which is available 24 hours a day) or email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk. HS2 can support in a variety of ways including financial donations, volunteering hours and material donations. Information on funding is available at https://hs2funds.org.uk/about/ .
Need our help?
If you need further help, want to join us, or have ideas and suggestions that would mitigate the community impact, then get in touch at enquiries@whs2.org.
Doing what’s right for Wendover
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