New Local Walking and Cycling Routes – The Buckinghamshire Greenway
A report kindly précised by Cynthia Floud
The 'Buckinghamshire Greenway' is a unique and emerging vision for a transformational walking and cycling route stretching from Milton Keynes and Brackley to Uxbridge and Heathrow Airport, forming the north-south spine of a future countywide walking and cycling network made up of a series of local links.
Building on Buckinghamshire's heritage as the birthplace of the Paralympics, the 'Buckinghamshire Greenway 'will be accessible for all users. It will deliver a step-change in the quality of walking and cycling infrastructure through the county and beyond, providing a world-class example of modern and international cycling infrastructure in a rural context. It also offers excellent opportunities to reduce congestion, improve public health and boost local cycling tourism.
The first phase of the route, the Waddesdon Greenway, a 4km traffic-free route between Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station and the popular National Trust property Waddesdon Manor, was completed in September 2018. The route has proven to be hugely successful, with over 70,000 trips recorded within the first year of opening. This 'trailblazer 'route gives a taste of the potential benefits which could be unlocked by delivering the broader 'Buckinghamshire Greenway' vision.
Buckinghamshire County Council and its partners are working on several schemes to help realise the 'Buckinghamshire Greenway' vision. Funding has been secured to support the development and/or delivery of the following schemes:
A413 Wendover Cycleway and Network Improvements – Improvements to routes in the Wendover area are being investigated, and will help to link the existing Amber Way (from Aylesbury Garden Town) to the proposed Misbourne Greenway.
Aylesbury Garden Town Cycling and Walking Network – A Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan has been produced for Aylesbury Garden Town, recommending improvements to the walking and cycling networks in and around the town and nearby settlements. The recommended improvements will be implemented on an ongoing basis as and when funding becomes available.
Haydon Hill Link / Emerald Way Improvements – A river crossing at Haydon Hill Park, to join Aylesbury's Emerald Way (Gemstone Cycle Network) with the beginning of the Waddesdon Greenway at Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station .
Haddenham and Thame Greenway – A traffic-free route connecting Haddenham and Thame is being investigated in conjunction with Sustrans and Oxfordshire County Council. Visitors to Haddenham Safe Walking & Cycling Group's stall at Haddenham's Community Fair will discover the results of the recent survey about this path.
Cycle Parking Improvements – Improvements are to be made to the cycle parking facilities at Princes Risborough, High Wycombe and Aylesbury Railway Stations, in partnership with Chiltern Railways and the Aylesbury Garden Town programme.
Alongside this, Buckinghamshire County Council is progressing background work for the following schemes that will help to deliver the 'Buckinghamshire Greenway 'vision:
Buckingham Cycling and Walking Network -a future network has been identified through the Buckingham Transport Strategy, including a town network and connecting routes to Milton Keynes, Silverstone and Brackley.
Aylesbury Vale Greenway – A largely traffic-free walking and cycling route extending the Waddesdon Greenway from Aylesbury Garden Town to Waddesdon, Quainton, Calvert, Steeple Claydon and Buckingham
Grand Union Canal Triangle – A circular canal-side route between Aylesbury Garden Town, Tring and Wendover. Phase 1 of this scheme, between Aylesbury Town Centre and Arla Dairy at Woodlands, has been delivered in partnership with the Canal and River Trust.
Haddenham to Aylesbury – A route connecting Haddenham and Aylesbury via the existing Pebble Way (Gemstone Cycle Network) in Stone.
Précised by Cynthia Floud
Chair of Haddenham Safer Walking & Cycling Group
