ROUGH RIDE: Proposed road closure between Chorleywood and The Chalfonts labelled as ‘damaging to the environment’

Residents from The Chalfonts and Chorleywood have raised concerns over the closure of a road linking the two villages.

Buckinghamshire Council launched a consultation, which closed on Friday, December 13, on proposals to permanently close Roughwood Lane to vehicles.

The council said that the narrow country lane is “not able to cope with the volumes of traffic”. However, residents have raised concerns.

Speaking to CHALFONTS&GERRARDSCROSSnews, Chorleywood resident Nils Blythe said: “This will have the effect of forcing current users to go via Little Chalfont.

“This would add more than 3.5 miles to the journey with a corresponding increase in carbon emissions and exhaust gases which, cumulatively, will be damaging to the environment.”

Nils also emphasised that the closure would add traffic to the already highly congested Little Chalfont end of Burtons Lane, where Dr Challoner’s High School is located.

He continued: “As a regular user of Roughwood Lane, I am aware that occasionally there is severe congestion. It would be worthwhile for the council to liaise with the mapping apps to ensure that this does not happen.

“Better signage to prevent lorries and large vans using Roughwood Lane would also be helpful. But closing the lane to cars at all times is a disproportionate response to occasional problems.”

Residents have also noted how Buckinghamshire Council seems to have only liaised with residents of The Chalfonts regarding the closure, despite the proposal directly impacting Chorleywood residents.

Nils continued: “I am aware – from a friend in Little Chalfont – that some Buckinghamshire residents have received a letter about it… I have not. I think that publicising a consultation should be determined by who is most likely to be affected.”

Councillor Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member for transport, said: “In line with our other highways consultations, we have welcomed comments or concerns from anyone who uses this single-track lane in Chalfont St Giles. The consultation ran from November 22 to December 13 and has now closed. Our next step is to consider all the views and feedback we have received.”

Photo: Google Earth