Community groups in Beaconsfield were given a first look at plans for a relief road to ease congestion in the town yesterday.

Bucks County Council held a stakeholder workshop for local community groups on October 7 to update them on the progress of the £9.4million A355 corridor improvements project, which includes plans for a relief road to ease congestion in the town as well as roundabout and junction improvements in Beaconsfield and Amersham.

Phase one of the relief road, which is being provided by Inland Homes who are developing 350 homes on the Wilton Park site, will run from the A40 Pyebush roundabout to Minerva Way.

The second phase, to be undertaken by Bucks County Council, will continue the road north, eventually intersecting with the A355 near Maxwell Road.

Construction is expected to begin in 2017, with the opening of the new road planned for 2019.

Groups such as the Beaconsfield Society, Beaconsfield Old Town Residents Association (BOTRA) and Vision for Beaconsfield heard how the key features of the proposed relief road could include a speed limit of 40mph and a shared footway and cycleway to run the length of the road.

The existing footpath between the A355 and relief road is set to be converted to a shared cycle track, with a proposed pedestrian and cyclist crossing point at the south of the A355 and relief road junction.

There are two options for the position of the relief road, with the eastern alignment positioned further away from residential properties while the central alignment would travel through an existing gap in the treeline. 

Bucks Free Press:

Options for the position of the relief road as featured in the stakeholder workshop. Picture by Jacobs/Bucks County Council.

There are also plans to reduce traffic within Beaconsfield by 750 vehicles in the morning and 900 vehicles in the evening around the London End roundabout by widening the A355 carriageway and possibly the A40 London Road to two lanes in each direction.

Congestion at the junctions of Ledborough Lane and Longbottom Lane could be reduced with mini roundabouts or traffic signals.

Douglas Butterfield, chairman of the Vision for Beaconsfield group said that after viewing the plans, he is concerned that the traffic will just be rerouted somewhere else.

He said: “I think the council are providing us with plans that they have more of less decided on, although it was presented like a consultation.

 “The town does need relief from congestion. All the roads that lead up to the London End roundabout get incredibly congested at peak times. It is good news that they are taking those issues into consideration, but I have concerns that it is not going to relieve congestion, but will just reroute it somewhere else.

“I think people will be disappointed that it isn’t going to relieve all the congestion issues in the town.

“It is not quite a five star welcome, more like a three star welcome. I didn’t come away feeling like I had very strong opinions about any of it.”

Mike Elliot, chair of campaign group Wilton Park Watch and the deputy chair for the Vision for Beaconsfield group, said: “The debate over a relief road has been rumbling on for decades so it is encouraging to see that they have come as far as they have with these plans.

“It is great news that it is going to come to fruition but I think everyone wishes the road would span the railway line. Of course we understand in the current economic climate that this cannot happen. I think the plans will certainly help the congestion around London End.

“It wasn’t clear exactly how pedestrians and cyclists will traverse the new road, so I have concerns about safety. Some modifications to ensure their safety would be great.”