Works by Transport for Buckinghamshire (TfB) are set to
commence this Monday, 20th February, providing improvements to
Chesham High Street and Market Square. The carefully planned works, which
include maintenance requiring planning permission due to the town centre’s
conservation area status, have been scheduled in close cooperation between TfB,
the Environment Agency, Chesham Town Council, and local businesses.
The planned works comprise footway and carriageway
improvements including repair to areas damaged by tree roots, replacement of
some blockwork along the footway between Station Road and Red Lion Street,
installation of a new drainage channel between Station Road and Church Street
to address some flooding issues, and tree pruning and maintenance.
Efforts have been made to limit disruption to local
businesses and residents during the predicted six to eight weeks the works will
take to complete. While fencing around works will be in place, access to all
properties will be open, and any works affecting access to local businesses
will take place outside of normal working hours. Chesham’s vibrant Wednesday and Saturday
markets will also continue to operate during the works. Utmost care and respect
will be employed in making these vital improvements to one of Buckinghamshire’s
important historic towns, and all works have been designed with the
conservation of town character in mind.
County Councillor Mark Shaw, who is Cabinet Member for Transportation
in Buckinghamshire, has emphatically welcomed the improvements to his home town
saying, ‘It’s been a long road to securing the budget and organising these
vital works, and Noel Brown [County Councillor for Chess Valley] and I are both
so happy they are about to commence. We really tried to listen to local
residents and businesses, and the concerns we were hearing about were trip
hazards and flooding – I believe these issues will be addressed by these works,
and I hope everyone enjoys, and benefits from, the results. So, please bear
with the contractors for the next couple of months or so, and we’ll have a
renewed and restored high street just in time for spring.”
Notes: Works commence
on Monday 20th February and are scheduled to take 6-8 weeks, weather
dependent. All works take place within the pedestrianised part of Chesham town
centre, with access retained for delivery and service vehicles as usual.
