Iver relief road moves a step closer

A relief road in Iver has taken a step forward.

Options for the relief road are being examined by The Ivers Members Liaison Group which is a steering group made up of parish, district and county councillors. The liaison group has been set up following a traffic and transport study which took place in the area during 2016.

The 2016 study found there were around 1,900 heavy goods vehicle movements a day, they are a long-standing bone of contention among residents of Iver, Iver Heath and Richings Park, who have maintained a consistent campaign to cut lorry numbers by building a relief road.

The findings of the study, which is being examined by the Liaison Group, measured traffic flows, congestion locations and heavy goods vehicle pinch points. Three relief road ‘corridors’ are being considered which provide five options likely to cost between £15 million and £100m.

Liaison Group Chairman Paul Irwin, Buckinghamshire County Council’s Deputy Transport Cabinet Member, said the group’s focus was on relieving congestion through Iver, Iver Heath and Richings Park. He was confident that an initial business case for relief road options could be worked up by early 2018.

‘I’m acutely aware of residents’ feelings about the volume of heavy goods traffic, and of the urgency of their call for a relief road,‘ said Paul. ‘While these solutions aren’t the kind that happen overnight, we’re working as speedily as possible to find the option that will be best for everyone.‘

The Liaison Group is also looking at a sustainable travel aspiration for a cycleway and footpath from Pinewood Studios through Iver Heath and Iver village, past Iver station, Richings Park and potentially onwards to Heathrow airport. Stage 1 of the project has funding so far of £500,000 from Pinewood Studios and the group will be looking for developer contributions to pay for the whole scheme which could cost £5m.