Old Rectory Lane improvements

19th August
Repaired as promised?

As we can all see, the road was repaired on the night of Friday 19th August. some are not happy with either the quantity, or the quality of the works - but one thing is for sure: It's better than it was, so a big thank you to Wayne for getting the job pushed through. 

12th August 2013
Overnight Closure: Old Rectory Lane is scheduled to be closed for repair works to be carried out:

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The Council state that all repairs are weather dependant, but this is the latest from the Council:

Highway Maintenance Road Treatment Works

Transport for Buckinghamshire will be undertaking highway maintenance road treatment works to the carriageway of Old Rectory Lane between Rectory Cottage and Slade Oak Lane as part of the 'We're Working on It' (WWOI) programme. This work is being undertaken to improve the condition of the road in order to prolong its life, and involves surfacing work to targeted sections of the carriageway.

The road treatment works here are scheduled to take place in mid August (19/8 - 23/8 appx ) and it is anticipated they will take 1 night to complete. Information signs will be erected on site prior to the commencement of the works, giving the actual dates and durations. You will appreciate that works of this nature are extremely weather dependant and therefore may be subject to disruption due to inclement weather. If the works are delayed, the advance notice signs on site will be updated to reflect any change in dates.

This work will be undertaken utilising a night time road closure which will be in operation between 19:00hrs and 06:00hrs each day. Every effort will be made to maintain access for residents and businesses, although there may be some delay as the road treatment works pass your property, and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The decision has been made to carry out these works at night to minimise large scale disruption during the day. Working at night is also more cost effective and time efficient. In order to minimise the impact on residents we will endeavour to keep the noise levels on the site as low as reasonably possible at all times. However, due to the nature of these works, noisy activities may occur at times throughout the period and we apologise in advance for this. Our contractors endeavour to ensure that that any plant vehicle used at night is fitted with an innovative piece of equipment that will help reduce noise pollution from our vehicles. By using a broadband 'white noise' sound wave to indicate when a vehicle is reversing the system reduces disturbance to residents or others in the vicinity.

It is vital that we ask that whilst works are being undertaken that vehicles are not parked on the highway and/or footway, as this would obviously cause an obstruction and prevent the necessary works from being carried out in their entirety.

Further information about this work can be found on Transport for Buckinghamshire's Service Information Centre at http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/transport or alternatively you can call 0845 230 2882 and one of my colleagues will be able to pass your enquiry through to me.

Should you wish to contact us in respect of the above enquiry, please quote the reference number above.

Should you have any further enquiries please do not hesitate to contact us by email, or by phone on 0845 2302882 (9am to 5.30pm) or on 01296486630 (out of hours service for emergencies only).

18th March
Update from the Council - come and listen at the AGM (21st March)

One of the Road Technician's from Bucks CC has offered to come  to the AGM to give an update on the state of the road and what they are planning to do to fix it.

11th February
The pot-holes are back again

Once again the pot-holes are back - this time with cones in them, reducing the road to "single track" or "one way at a time" chaos for us and the 600 cars etc that have to complete their daily commute to Martin Bakers. Bucks County Council have been contacted and we will add thier response as it becomes available.

Come on Bucks County Council - fix our road (please)

If you are from the council and can advise us what is being done, or what plans are in place, or would like to chat to some "locals"  who have lived here for many years click on the button on the right and we'll see what we can do

5th February
The cones and the signage has all gone. But why?

It was too dark to see what has been done, but at least two-way traffic can once again flow (?) down Old Rectory Lane. The CA has not had any communication from the council, so as soon as we know what's going on we will let you know.

4th January
Watch this space: Bucks Council to get run-off from field sorted out. Soon.

The Council have updated us with some very good news: They have engaged a civil engineering contractor to look at what is required to prevent the field from draining onto the road (ie prevent run-off) and then "get on with it". One option being considered is the creation of a suitable soak-away within the field, and some improvements to the exit area of the field, where it joins the road.
Timings are not yet clear, and it maybe that another option is seen to be better, but at least we can expect some action "soon".

Bucks Council has a plan
31st December

In a lengthy reply to our situation Bucks Council have mande the following points:
1) Excessive surface water is making things difficult.
Due to the excessive amount of surface water on the road it has not been possible to carry out more sustainable or longer term pothole repairs. In such wet and saturated conditions conventional road surface repair materials are ineffective since they do not bond to the existing surface and quickly begin to fail.
2) Reducing run-off from the field is a prioroty
It is therefore our priority to resolve the flooding problem so we can fully assess the road condition for permanent repairs. We have identified the relevant landowners and will be making contact with them within the next week with a view to reducing field run off on to the highway.
3) In the meantime we are doing what we can to provide a safe "not-floooded" road as far as possible. This will mean reduced width.
In the meantime, you will be aware, we have attempted some interim measures which have included temporary pothole repairs and additional signing and guarding. However, due to the nature of the problem and the fact that there is no quick and easy fix to this we have today implemented a further temporary traffic management arrangement which allows for priority working throughout the damaged section of lane.
In addition we have used a sandbag bund to try and contain the surface water to the untrafficked section of road thereby allowing us to maintain a single safe running lane throughout.
4) It's not ideal . . . .
I appreciate that  this is not ideal in particular as this section of road is used by all traffic due to the road closure of Slade Oak Lane but is necessary if we are to maintain access to both properties and businesses and we would ask for your patience whilst we try to sort out the long term solution.
5) . . . but we are taking it seriously 
I would like to reassure you and the residents of Higher Denham that we are taking this matter seriously and will do our utmost to maintain the road in a safe condition.
6) The situation will be frequently monitored
For your information daily inspections have been introduced in order to check for any further road surface deterioration or damaged/vandalised traffic management. 




 

In the short-term:
- single lane working
- working side has been patched up
- priority for those coming into the village
- (so those leaving must give way)
- many more cones
- lit up for night-time safety
- sandbag "bund" to try and keep working side of road as dry as possible.

IS THIS WHAT WE PAY LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR?

- is it only us (the residents of Higher Denham) that know we only have one entry and exit route while the other road is closed under the bridge while repairs happen? (The one the Council granted permission to be closed).

- is it only us that know there is a factory at the end of the road, one that has big trucks delivering (and making the holes worse,) and some 600 employees who travel in and out by car and bicycle each day and they all have to navigate over the potholes?

- is it only us that know the potholes are permanantly under water for days at a time - so you cannot see them?

- and of course car/motor-cycle/bicycle lights stand NO CHANCE of picking out any danger during the long hours of darkness before and after work . .
 
So it is only a matter of time before a cyclist (or pizza delivery moped) has a terrible accident?

When a resident tried to complain, she was told "well we could close the road" . . .

And it has been noted that the roads in Hillingdon, a stone's throw away from us, are in a far better state, AND they are lit throughout the night AND the residents have just had their tax charge frozen for 2013 so funding cannnot be an issue.

Join our competition:
1) If you've seen bigger pot-holes, or a section of road in a worse state, let us know.

Progress? 30th December:

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They say it's better - one hole filled, cones in another in the distance more cones to make a chicane (and someone local destroying the signs)
Click on each picture to enlarge

Dec 27th: Old Rectory Lane - at "low -tide"

And when the water is higher?

We'll add more photos when we can, but let's just say "It all disappears under several inches of water, for a distance of about 150 meters"