VIDEO: '˜Gridlock' fears put to rest over Bierton diversion

Councillor Julie Ward expressed her fears over the closure of the cut-through road between the A41 and the A418 Aylesbury Road, which are in her ward.

The traffic from that road would have been directed along Oakfield Road and Douglas Road instead for 18 months.

Councillor Ward said: “Any order that causes a significant increase of traffic on to this road is, in my opinion, both ill thought-out and dangerous.

“Residents of Broughton Avenue, which is a busy pedestrian area with schools and shops, are already seeing their road used as a rat run for speeding motorists wanting to avoid the Tring Road traffic lights.

“This problem can only get worse with yet more traffic directed on to Tring Road.

“The Dog House public house at Broughton Crossing will suffer the loss of all passing trade during this time. A public house cannot survive on regulars and bookings alone.

“Additionally, this plan gives no alternative route should either Tring Road of Aylesbury Road, Bierton, become blocked due to accident, breakdown or maintenance works to the highway. Essentially, should this happen, we will find ourselves gridlocked, with problems reverberating all over the town.”

This week Bucks County Council confirmed that plans for a long diversion had been scrapped, and that instead the work will start on April 18 for eight weeks, and then for another stint later this year to install canal bridge traffic signals. It is believed the revised working schedule was agreed between the council and Barratt Homes in January.