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Railway reopening subject of homes battle
2:35pm Wednesday 19th November 2008
THE possibility of reopening a railway line between Bourne End and High Wycombe was furiously argued today during a public enquiry into a controversial planning application.
Developer Henry Homes wants to build on the thin strip of land behind Wycombe Lane, Wooburn Green and launched an appeal after Wycombe District Council failed to make a decision over its plans within its target of 13 weeks.
Today the council argued strongly why it listed the safe guarding of the land as one of its main reasons for refusing the scheme to build 29 homes on the 0.77 hectare plot, if a decision had been made on it.
Henry Homes, meanwhile said the possibility of the reopening of the line was “highly unlikely”.
If reopened the council would like to introduce a light rail or ultra light rail line between High Wycombe and Bourne End, which could open up opportunities to link up with First Great Western trains via Maidenhead.
Hugh Chaplain, giving evidence on behalf of Henry Homes, gave details of similar schemes proposed in Liverpool and Leeds, which had not got off the ground.
He said: “Given the evidence relating to light railway there's little chance in my lifetime of a light rail scheme being delivered on this (the Bourne End to High Wycombe) corridor.”
Mr Chaplain added the estimated cost of reinstating the line was put at around £200 million – a figure the High Wycombe society disagreed with.
The society, which works to protect the district's green spaces, has been campaigning for years to get the line reopened.
Nigel Phillips, a society member, said: “We're talking about five miles that doesn't cross the Thames, it crosses the motorway where there's already a tunnel for it.
“£40 million a mile is inflated.”
This is the second appeal Henry Homes has lodged against the district council over its plans to build on the disused line.
In November 2006 the council turned down Henry's proposals to build 33 homes on the site. Henry lost its subsequent appeal to the planning inspector.
The enquiry is expected to finish tomorrow.
Your Say YourBucks
Punchy, Wycombe says...
3:53pm Wed 19 Nov 08
In fact, they should be thankful this dispute has happened, it may have saved them a pile of cash.
Low_Wycombe, High Wycombe says...
4:33pm Wed 19 Nov 08
Mutley wrote:ahhh, thanks Mutley, you should be a BFP Editor (I think there used to be one, he used to moan about Chinese takeaways and bus lanes)
The council should stick to its guns. Why scupper plans, however tentative, for a future rail link for the sake of a few houses. Once they are built the route is gone forever and more building will soon take place on other lengths of the route.
(Also, I think what exists at the motorway crossing (at Loudwater) is called a "tunnel" and not a "toll" - although the latter mighthelp pay for the line! :) )
I had no idea what was meant by "toll".
SDJones, Hazlemere says...
5:20pm Wed 19 Nov 08
billsheppard, High Whycome says...
6:22pm Wed 19 Nov 08
With the town growing more and more with traffic getting worse and worse in the town, can we really afford to nip potential commuter arteries in the bud like this?
If WDC allow the cowboys to build, it will shamefully show where their priorities lie.
sportsturf, marlow says...
1:09am Thu 20 Nov 08
Tharus Bond, Flackwell Heath says...
8:02am Thu 20 Nov 08
towncryer, HIgh Wycombe town says...
7:41am Fri 21 Nov 08
We also need better buses 24/7 across the district ,surrounding towns and London at affordable prices
Miltonian, Hazlemere says...
9:55pm Fri 21 Nov 08
Your sayYourBucks
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District councillor Simon Bazley and High Wycombe Society members Elsa Woodward, Nigel Phillips and Chris Woodman are against the plans
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Mutley, High Wycombe says...
3:32pm Wed 19 Nov 08
(Also, I think what exists at the motorway crossing (at Loudwater) is called a "tunnel" and not a "toll" - although the latter mighthelp pay for the line! :) )