Dear All
Please find a message from the Parish Council below:
The Parish Council would like to provide a brief update on the work being undertaken on behalf of residents regarding roads, potholes, drainage and flooding around the village.
Firstly, thank you to everyone who has taken the time to report issues through FixMyStreet. Your participation has made a real difference, with many potholes repaired and a number of road maintenance issues addressed. Continued reporting is important, as it provides evidence of problems and helps us press for further action.
Flooding remains an ongoing concern. The Parish Council has maintained regular contact with the Council regarding drainage and flooding, resulting in improvements in some areas. We would also like to recognise the considerable work undertaken by local farmers, who have dealt with much of the flooding and helped keep affected roads accessible. Their efforts are greatly appreciated.
We have continued to press the Council for action on the remaining problems. This persistence has resulted in two visits to the village, with officers inspecting the issues and agreeing a number of actions. Unfortunately, progress remains slower than we would like, but the Parish Council will continue to follow these matters up and push for the agreed work to be completed.
For transparency, we have included below the latest correspondence sent on behalf of the Parish Council, which outlines some of the issues that continue to affect the village.
This update is intended to keep residents informed and demonstrate that the Parish Council is actively working on your behalf.
We would also welcome your input. If you are aware of any road, pothole, drainage or flooding issues that have not been raised, please let us know. Where possible, please also report them through FixMyStreet.
Thank you
Letter from PBPC to Buckinghamshire Council:
I wanted to follow up on the outstanding issues I previously raised regarding Preston Bissett. The last response I received was in May, and while some progress has been made, there are still a number of issues that need addressing, particularly with winter approaching.
Potholes – Bushey Lane and Main Street
Many of the potholes have now been filled, which is appreciated. However, there are still a number of potholes that, while perhaps not yet meeting the current FixMyStreet criteria, are clearly deteriorating and are likely to meet the criteria during the winter.
On Main Street:
Bushey Lane:
I have logged these on FixMyStreet and attached photographs showing their current condition. It would be helpful if these could be inspected and, where possible, repaired before they deteriorate further and potentially cause damage to vehicles.
Outstanding signage and road safety issues
- The sign opposite the church has still not been repaired. This was originally raised in January. Can you provide an update on when this is likely to be resolved?
- The speed limit sign on Bushey Lane needs straightening.
- The guard rail, which was raised several months ago, remains unrepaired. Is there now a timescale for this work?
- The speed limit sign at the entrance to the village from Gawcott is becoming obscured by trees. Could the vegetation be cut back so the sign is clearly visible?
Flooding and drainage
There are several ongoing concerns which I would particularly like to see addressed before the winter weather arrives.
On South End, the water leak continues and appears to be getting worse. Anglian Water have been contacted on numerous occasions, but there does not appear to have been a permanent solution. Would the Council be able to contact Anglian Water directly or write to them to help push for this to be properly resolved?
The area on the southern side of the village (Main Street) that previously flooded was cleared, which made a noticeable difference. Unfortunately, it has now become overgrown again. I am concerned that, once the heavy rain returns, this will once again lead to flooding and potentially prevent access along this route.
Similarly, the ditch near the Bushey Lane junction with Main Street needs clearing to allow water to drain properly. Also, the bollards have been knocked down and need repairing.
On Pound Lane, it appears that trees have recently been cut back, presumably to protect the electricity cables. However, the resulting branches and offcuts appear to have been left behind and could obstruct the flow of water. Within the offcuts, there also seems to be some corrugated roofing. Could these please be removed before they contribute to further flooding?
Also, there are parts where the trees still seem to make contact with the trees:
The pond in the field will only be effective if the water can drain away without being blocked.
Visibility at Bushey Lane junction
Finally, visibility at the junction with Bushey Lane towards Gawcott is poor due to overgrown bushes. Cutting these back would significantly improve visibility for drivers. If vegetation clearance isn’t sufficient, could the possibility of installing a mirror opposite the junction be considered to help drivers see approaching traffic?
I appreciate that there are competing demands on Council resources, but many of these issues have been raised previously and some have now been outstanding for several months. With winter approaching, I would be grateful for an update on what action can be taken and, where possible, timescales for the outstanding work.
Many thanks,
Darren