MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Local HS2 works

In the last month there has been a deluge of HS2 Advance Works Notices in the locality as the project gains momentum.

The details are available at the HS2 Commonplace website https:// hs2inbucksandoxfordshire.commonplace.is/ news/ but in summary they cover:

• More Ground Investigation and Archaeology in the Small Dean Lane/Grove Farm area.

• Widening of junctions on the main routes used by HS2 lorries, including the Small Dean Roundabout at the southern end of the Wendover Bypass

• Closure of Church Lane for three days to investigate better water supply to Hampden Pond

Meanwhile there has been a landmark decision in the Courts that means that HS2 need to produce evidence to support their submissions to the Local Planning Authority. This countered HS2’s assumption that they could just point to the Act and people could trust them to deliver what was needed. At the time of writing the detailed designs for this area have not been submitted to Buckinghamshire Council. If you have direct queries, their published contact details are:

• HS2 Helpdesk on 08081 434 434

• email hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

The notice above also included more archaeological works which started in mid August and will be completed by the end of October. Many local people have asked questions about what will happen to the archaeological finds already made. As yet there isn't an answer. A PR representative of HS2 Ltd has explained to Wendover News that it is protecting the exact locations of finds as Historic England does not want any further disturbance by non-specialists during the continued investigations. In this edition of Wendover News, please see pages 5, 7 and 9 for more information about particular local impacts.