Quietway trial between Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter to end early

The ‘quietway’ trial between Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter is to end early.

On Thursday 10th September 2020 Buckinghamshire Council confirmed that the ‘quietway’ trial between Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter is to end early.

The cessation of the scheme comes after the Council listened carefully to the views of local people. While there was a growing level of local support, a clear majority objected to the scheme and the difficulties it was presenting locally.

The ‘quietway’ was part of the national effort by the Government to make travel safer during the pandemic and to encourage more cycling and walking. The scheme between Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter was the first to be trialled in Buckinghamshire and had been in place since early August 2020.

Nick Naylor, Buckinghamshire Council Cabinet Member for Transport, said: ‘The success of these active travel schemes depends on the benefits they bring to local communities. If they don’t work, they will be removed – it’s as simple as that.

By trialling the scheme over three months and seeing how the temporary measures worked did give local people the chance to see how things worked in real life. It clearly wasn’t for them, so we’re ending the trial early.

We do remain committed to working with local communities to develop and install measures which support walking and cycling for local trips in line with our climate change, air quality and public health policies.‘

Given the time pressures set by Government and the urgency to react to the on-going pandemic, conventional consultation with local people simply wasn’t an option.

Buckinghamshire Council will be trialling further schemes in Southcourt, Aylesbury and in Haddenham over the coming weeks and will continue its commitment to listen to the views of local people in these areas.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Council.