The narrow Buckingham Road is more dangerous than ever. Major action is needed to make it safer for both drivers and the residents who have to cross this narrow busy dangerous road on a daily basis.

The volume of traffic, even outside of the ‘peak times’, continues to grow. In peak times the traffic moves at a snail’s pace. Local councillors are concerned about two specific danger points on the road, and have written to Milton Keynes Council calling for a review of road safety.

The two measures that local councillors believe will improve road safety would be:

• a zebra, or toucan, crossing by the TESCO shop/Three Trees pub on the corner of Buckingham Road, Shenley Road and Newton Road

• traffic lights at the roundabout on the junction of Sherwood Drive and Buckingham Road.

Cllr Elaine Wales said,

“I used to live on Buckingham Road but, in recent years, traffic volumes have risen dramatically. The two problems identified cause real danger. The traffic at the Sherwood Drive roundabout is huge because of the access to the Bletchley train station and Bletchley Park. Outside TESCOs/Three Trees pub, a zebra crossing would make it safer for pedestrians crossing this busy road to get to the shops. It would also make the crossing safer for children walking to nearby Lord Grey school.”

Salden Chase and Southern Bletchley by-pass

What also worries Cllr Wales is that, if the proposed nearby development of Salden Chase takes place, the traffic flow onto the Buckingham Road would be even greater. One independent traffic review pointed to a 110% increase in traffic. However, it was good news that, on Thursday 9 March, the Milton Keynes Council Development Control (Planning) Committee deferred a planning application from the Salden Chase developer consortium for a second time. It was trying to create two new road entrances, one onto the Buckingham Road, that would lay the ground for access to the proposed Salden Chase development. She said,

“This was a great result for the community. The proposals did not address the massive problem of traffic congestion on the Buckingham Road, which will become worse as a result of development without the proper infrastructure.”

Cllr Wales concluded,

“We need immediate action to make the Buckingham Road safer. However, in the longer term we need to secure funding for the Bletchley Southern Bypass, otherwise the Buckingham Road will be impassable. That would be bad for residents and movement into Central Bletchley or the train station. “

Contact

Cllr Elaine Wales: 07963 143664

[Photo (c) kichigin19 on fotolia.com]