Anger over plans to route HGV construction traffic through Fairford Leys

Tony Newman at the entrance of a development near his Hampstead Close home,

Life Space Developments already has permission to build 10 homes off Chelsea Road in the estate, but now an argument has erupted over how its HGVs should get to the site.

It was originally proposed that construction traffic use the largely non-residential Rabans Lane, which would possibly require reinforcing the bridge which runs over Bear Brook.

However, Life Space is now proposing to route its vehicles via Arncott Way, Hampstead Close and Chelsea Road, to the fury of residents.

Antony Newman, 50, who lives in Hampstead Close with his wife, four-year-old daughter and 89-year-old father, said: “This is a quiet residential road. I have got a child living here. Now we could have 52 weeks at least of lorries coming down here.

“It’s going to leave mud and dirt all over the place and it is going to be quite dangerous.”

“This is a narrow road and a tight turn, which will require them to reverse large – probably articulated – vehicles across Arncott Way and into Spruce Road to line up to enter Hampstead Close.”

Fairford Leys councillor Steven Lambert is also fighting the proposal, submitted to Aylesbury Vale District Council planners.

He said he had ‘no sympathy at all’ for the developers if using Rabans Lane means they have to spend money reinforcing the bridge.

“It is just not possible to get vehicles around that end of Chelsea Road,” he said.

“You have already got cars speeding along, buses getting through and if you have a cement mixer trying to get through as well it’s going to be gridlock for Fairford Leys.”

Yesterday (Tuesday) a meeting took place between district planners and county highway officials to go over the plans.

A spokesman for Life Space Developments said: “We are currently working with the planning officer at Aylesbury Vale District Council and the Buckinghamshire County Council Highways Department to agree a satisfactory route for construction traffic, that is safe for both local residents and construction workers.”

The Ernest Cook Trust – which is responsible for Fairford Leys’ construction – originally secured planning permission for Chelsea Road before handing it over to Life Space Developments.