My response to the HSE Environmental Statment

I approach this response from the point of view of a casual cyclist seeing continuous improvement in cycling friendly infrastructure. We should encourage people to cycle to work and cycle for shopping.

Although the residents call Wendover a village it is a market town and this should be correctly described in section 2.1.3.

A guiding principle (9.2.1) should be that when possible, land should be put to use to the benefit of the public. For example the roof of the tunnel next to Wendover (2.2.9) could be used as a park or for allotments. In both cases provision should be made for electricity and water.

Along those lines, we have been seeking to purchase a couple of acres for the purpose of growing plants and trees to support our garden design business (www.acercorner.com) but non are available as the only agricultural land for sale is sold in bulk to speculative developers. Perhaps part of the land requisitioned for the works could be made available to people with similar requirements and ourselves.

Cycling

I was disappointed not to find a reference to cycling routs and paths in the overview of the area. Sections 2.1.7, 2.3.23, 5.4.9 & 5.5.6 should have at least mentioned the ‘Chiltern Cycle way’ and ‘Sustrans Regional Route 30’ (see http://www.chilternsaonb.org/cycleway.html & http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ncn/map)

The road upgrades and new roads should, by default, include a separate & dedicated cycle path. Especially the Road upgrades to Small Dean Lane and the access road to Grove Farm and the permanent link road between Beacombe Lane and Ellesborough Road listed in section 2.2.8 & 2.2.9. See also 2.3.21 & 5.5.6.

Perhaps the temporary diversion listed in 2.6.23 could be turned into a cycle way once it is no longer needed.

It is unclear what is the relevance of the 120 people per day cut off mentioned in 12.4.5. If this is some kind of thumb rule then it also should be applied to  the discussion in 5.5.5 of the cricket club. To my mind this makes no sense – this is a rural environment and the usage is seasonal and peeks during holidays. Thus daily averages is an inappropriate measure. Perhaps peek usage is more relevant.

The evaluation of impact in general and specifically in 12.5.15 is relevant to motorised transport but does not consider cyclist where slightly longer routs or changed gradients might pose a psychological or increased physical challenge – worsening significantly the conditions.

12.6.2 states Bacombe Lane will be permanently closed. Perhaps a shorter cycle link to Wendover could be provided  as part of the mitigation.