HS2 Spring Chamber and Dobbins Lane Update

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By Ron Petersen
Chair, Wendover HS2 Mitigation Action Group
3rd March 2025

HS2 (EKFB) intend to build a small spring chamber and construct an 800m access track in the fields close to King’s Farm Shop and their plan is to use Dobbins Lane and South Street as a route for a considerable volume of traffic including Heavy Goods Vehicles for works. Wendover HS2 remains unequivocally opposed to the scheme as proposed.

We produced a report in January about the HS2 proposals as of last December and committed to give an update about next steps once the full details were available in the formal Planning Application. Since then we have been working with Buckinghamshire Council, Wendover Parish Council and the Residents’ Group to get HS2 Ltd. and EKFB (HS2’s contractor), to make changes.

Responding to pressure from the entire community, EKFB:

• made design changes to their proposed access track and thereby reduced the number of HGV round trips from about 150 to 60, spread over a 12 week period;
• changed their HGV movement hours to avoid clashing with School Children going to and from the Station and local schools; and
• introduced an escort vehicle to enforce their 20mph speed limit on Dobbins Lane.

These changes are included in an eight page “Frequently Asked Questions” document that was made available at a Public Meeting held in the Wendover Tennis Club. The Planning Application (Ref 25/00406/APP) is now available for public comment on the Buckinghamshire Council Planning Portal website.

Our initial review of the Application has hardened our view that the proposal as it stands is not acceptable. Although the number of HGVs has reduced, the total number of round trips for all works traffic is now revealed to be 1,200, This amounts to an average of about 20 round trips (40 movements) every day. This appears to be disproportionate for the scale of the works involved and not at all suitable for these roads. The volume of total traffic movements was not disclosed by HS2/EKFB at their recent drop in event.

The Residents’ Group have produced a detailed paper explaining how the planning process works and how to make an effective comment in line with their objective of getting an alternative access route established, which could be the best solution for Wendover.

In parallel with that we’re focussed on three other points:

• Changes we propose to the design of the Spring Chamber that improve the visual impact in the Chilterns National Landscape, including removal of the solar powering cabinet and the fence that also obstructs access for UK Power Networks to their overhead power lines.
• Aspects of the vehicle movements that are described in the new FAQs document and the submitted Construction Transport Management Plan that are either missing or inappropriate.
• Recommendations made to the Parish Council of support that they should request from Bucks Council, such as maintenance of the Mobile CCTV rig at Church Lane so that vehicle movements can be monitored and reimbursement for resurfacing of Dobbins Lane and undertaking tree works.

What you can do:

• Look at the planning application.
  
  The most useful document is probably the “Planning Statement” which summarises the proposal, with the details being captured in the various drawings of the structures as the main focus of the approval is about what the thing will look like when it’s finished. There are also a number of supporting documents to address these issues, including the Construction Phase Traffic Management Plan [CTMP], an Ecological Impact Assessment, an Arboricultual Impact Assessment, and an Archaeological Monitoring Scheme.


• Provide feedback to Buckinghamshire Council before the cutoff on 25th of March.
  
  The Residents’ Group paper gives details of how to respond, including the “material considerations” that are most relevant for the Planning Officers.

HS2 have made changes to their Spring Chamber proposals as a direct result of the community response, but they need to do much more. We encourage you to respond to the Planning Application so that collectively we can “Do what’s right for Wendover”.

If you need further information or want to join us to help the fight, please email us at enquiries@whs2.org.