I HOPE that council officers dealing with the closure of Rayners Avenue, Loudwater, have considered points raised which are blatantly evident to locals.

The closure of Rayners Avenue will cause chaos at many points, not least at the junction of Robinson Road and Hammersley Lane. Traffic that will have no alternative route, either in or out of this junction, is tied to about 451 homes with about 675 cars, plus the golf club with, say, 100 cars daily. All have to use the Robinson Road/Hammersley Lane junction.

Why has the bridge in Magpie Lane not been reopened during the closure? Access from the A40, certainly for restricted width vehicles, up to the bridge already exists. The three posts preventing passage could be removed in an hour. The existing track through the wood is of suitable width just needing a couple of days work and a few tons of scalpings, to make easy passage for the majority of vehicles affected. Install temporary traffic lights top and bottom of Magpie Lane allowing traffic to flow in alternate directions.

Install a temporary mini-roundabout at the exit out of the wood where Robinson Road meets Rayners Avenue, add a few concrete bollards and lights and your problem at the bottom end is solved. The exit is in the old disused A40 which runs parallel with the A40 and has exits at both ends on to the A40.

If all that is adopted, the lights at the Hammersley Lane/A40 junction would not be needed and most people living in the area would have a chance to avoid chaos.

Have No Waiting restrictions been applied to Robinson Road during the closure?

If not, vehicles wishing to enter the above listed areas during peak periods will be prevented from entering from Hammersley Lane by traffic waiting to exit into Hammersley Lane and vehicles parked along Robinson Road, thus blocking Hammersley Lane in both directions. Has thought been given to co-ordinated lights at this junction and those at the A40/Hammersley Lane junction?

Also, a temporary steel tunnel through the centre span of the viaduct to allow safe passage for one-way traffic and pedestrians?

If the cost of such a structure made of steel tube and heavy timbers has been the reason for not doing so, would someone kindly tell me what the cost to the public in waiting time and fuel waste, standing in hopeless queues, is likely to be over the 16 weeks or more.

Has thought been given to suspending the bus lane during the period and switching off the Rayners Avenue lights during the day, allowing the pedestrian crossing lights to operate as traffic control?

If councillors and others had been consulted it could have been so much better.

Loudwater has suffered many mistakes through opinion being ignored and subsequently proven correct. The bus lane and eventual removal between the Dreams roundabout and the Station Road/A40 mini roundabout, is one. A Village Appraisal to be undertaken, to co-ordinate the views of Loudwater residents on the way forward for the well-being of our village.

I appeal to residents to respond to the call of the organisers, when asked to attend meetings or forward practical suggestions that could result in an improvement in communications between remote decision-makers and Joe Public.

Maurice Smith

Parish councillor

Chepping Wycombe

Parish Council