Residents challenge 90‑home Marsworth proposal over fears for roads and services
What affect will a new development of 80-90 houses in Marsworth, bringing 200-plus people and their cars, have on roads, inadequate drains and low water pressure? That is the question residents are asking.
With 10,000 new homes also being mooted for Cheddington and 2,291 for Tring, how will already over-subscribed schools and GPs, and the locality’s narrow 230-year-old canal bridges, cope if many more houses are built in the local area?
These were just a few of the questions raised at a meeting of more than 50 residents on Monday night, held by Marsworth Parish Council to discuss the latest development proposal in the draft Buckinghamshire Local Plan.
Of the three sites offered by owners for development in Marsworth only the one put forwards by the Diocese of Oxford behind Stepnells and the Crescent has been included.
It was sparked after the Diocese of Oxford put forward land it owns behind Stepnells and the Crescent in response to a call out for suitable sites, after the Government hiked Bucks’ housing target from 65,000 to 95,000 new homes, while offering no additional money for infrastructure.
Residents who want to express their views are urged by both the parish council and Bucks Council to comment before March 16 on the Have Your Say survey at https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/2aa4b313/
using site reference 760 and the address: Land off Lower Icknield Way, Marsworth, HP23 4LW.
Councillor Chris Poll advised residents to comment on what infrastructure might be needed as a result of the Marsworth proposal, rather than taking an emotional, Nimby approach.
Attendees mentioned a possible need for new roundabouts at the Vicarage Road and Lower Icknield Way site entrances, bridge and road widening, new, improved sewage pipes and processing plants, more capacity at our schools and GP surgeries, more parking at Tring and Cheddington stations, new shops and a young children’s play area.
A resident commented that there were also road safety concerns. commented that cars come over the brow of the hill at speed, making the proposed entrance on Lower Icknield Way dangerous, and leading drivers to favour the residential Stepnells and Vicarage Road access route.
Traffic is very busy at peak times, especially towards the station. And the one million cars per year each way that use Lower Icknield Way could be expected to double if mass development goes ahead, Bob Kennedy, the Marsworth Parish Council chairman, added.
Recent fires in the village have seen fire crew having to use water from the canal, which was nearby in both cases, unlike this site. Water pressure is notoriously low in the village. And the poor sewage system is known to frequently result in blockages.
On the nature front, skylarks nest in the proposed field, while murmurations of starlings gather to roost in trees adjacent to the site. Inevitably, there would be increased pressure on the AONB at Ashridge, the meeting agreed.
Residents who share any of the concerns raised on Monday night are encouraged to respond to the survey this week, before the March 16 deadline.
HALL CLEANER ROLE: Marsworth Village Hall is looking for a reliable part-time cleaner to help keep the hall clean, tidy and welcoming for everyone who uses it.
The hours are Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30–5:30 pm, a total of four hours per week.
Previous cleaning experience would be helpful, but not essential. Contact Iain Puddephatt: [email protected]; 07968 788998
JUMBLE SALE: This will be on Saturday, April 11 at the Millennium Hall, Marsworth, from 1pm. More jumble wanted. Call 01442 825057.
MARGARET’S MEMORIAL: Margaret Johnson, who was a stalwart of the village and All Saints Church for many years, passed away in January. Her memorial service will be held on Friday March 27 at 1pm at All Saints Church, Marsworth, and then afterwards in the village hall.
RACE NIGHT: Beacon Community Choir is organising A Night At The Races at Marsworth Village Hall on Saturday, May 2 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50 including supper. Doors open at 6.45pm and betting opens at 7.15pm.
CHEDDINGTON COFFEE: A coffee shop has opened in the Methodist Chapel in Cheddington, open Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 12 pm and 2pm to 4pm Monday to Friday. The coffee shop also opens from 9am to 12 noon on Saturdays.
TRING MUSEUM: Currently on display at Tring Local History Museum, are Original Drawings by artist John Chessell Buckler (1793-1894).
Buckler was an architect and a prolific artist. On display are drawings of the mansion, churches and vicarages in Tring, Puttenham, Wigginton and Long Marston, created between 1832 and 1839. These drawings offer us a fascinating, pre-photography view of each building.
The museum is open every Friday and Saturday from 10:00 – 15:30. Entry FREE
TRING CHORAL: Tring Choral Society's next concert is on Saturday March 14. Four superb soloists will be joining the choir to sing Vivaldi's 'Gloria' and Haydn's 'Harmony Mass'. Buy tickets from www.tringchoral.org.uk.)
ROAD CLOSURE: The Lower Icknield Way below Marsworth is due to be closed from March 25 to 28. Meanwhile, the A41 Tring Bypass is closed at night from 8pm to 6am, until March 14, while work is carried out.
PITSTONE SPEED BUMPS: Residents posting on Everything Pitstone are claiming that the new speed bumps are very harsh on their car suspensions. More than 33 people commented that they are ‘brutal’ and very noisy too.
DR GUPTA RETIRES. Dr Gupta is retiring at the end of the month from Rothschild House Surgery. Many people have been saying online how much he will be missed.
RESSIE: Wilstone Reservoir is full of water again, after having been very low over the winter. The new steps and footpath are due to open again to walkers by the end of March, following piling work on the embankments.
TRAINS: Train services will not run from Tring to London Euston and Milton Keynes over the Easter break, particularly on April 7 and 8. So do check services in advance before making plans.
TRING PARK: There are reports on Everything Tring of dead rabbits hung in trees in Tring Park. Some say people have put them there to get dead rabbits off the ground, so that dogs don’t eat them. The rabbits are either dying of myxomatosis or Spanish liver disease, they add.
SHAKESPEARE: After seven years, the Pendley Shakespeare Festival is returning to The Dembe Theatre, with A Midsummer Night’s Dream from August 12 to 16.