Massive support for a safe cycling route to Haddenham from Thame

A future off-road walking and cycling link between Thame and Haddenham has won overwhelming support from local residents and community groups.

An online survey, which drew more than 2,000 responses, showed 94% of respondents would use an off-road walking and cycling route if one was introduced between Thame and Haddenham and Thame Parkway railway station.

Buckinghamshire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Sustrans are currently investigating the feasibility and support for such a route between Thame and Haddenham, and the survey will feed into that study.

The survey found that 82% of respondents said they currently travel between the station and Thame by car, van or motorcycle, while 5% said they cycle and 2% said they walk. Because of land-owner and Rights of Way issues around a cross-country ‘Greenway’, a route running alongside the A418 Aylesbury Road, on the other side of the hedge is being investigated and discussions with land-owners is on-going.

The A418 currently acts as a major barrier to safe opportunities for walking and cycling between Haddenham and Thame. The delivery of an off-road walking and cycling route would reduce congestion on a heavily used part of the transport network by substantially increasing the potential for sustainable travel along this corridor. The route would also enable connections to the wider network of existing and proposed walking and cycling routes. 

Mark Shaw, Buckinghamshire County Council Deputy Leader and Transport Cabinet Member, said: “We canvassed local opinion because we wanted to know how people currently travel, and to assess whether it would be beneficial to pursue providing an off-road walking and cycling route. These are early days, but the results are encouraging.” 

Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member Environment, which includes transport, said: “The survey results shows that there is a real appetite for the scheme and that residents are keen for a more sustainable way to travel between Thame and Haddenham. The results have been analysed by officers at Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire and will now be used in progressing the scheme to the next stages. These are early stages for this scheme, but the survey uptake and results are encouraging.”

Such a route between Thame and Haddenham is a long-standing and prime objective of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan. But discussions having been on-going long before the TNP publication, since before 2008. (See LINK)

A summary of the survey results can be found at: https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/cycling-and-walking/new-walking-and-cycling-routes/haddenham-and-thame-greenway Money for the scheme would come from the Housing and Growth Deal fund, and Section 106 funding.

BCC/OCC External Stakeholder Update (February 2020):

Haddenham and Thame Greenway – Scheme Update (February 2020)

Buckinghamshire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Sustrans are investigating an aspirational off-road walking and cycling route between Haddenham and Thame Parkway Station and Thame, referred to as the Haddenham and Thame Greenway. This email forms the first bi-monthly scheme update that will be issued to the Parish/Town Councils and local interest groups, with the next scheme update proposed for end April 2020. 

Online survey:

An online survey on the Haddenham and Thame Greenway was conducted between 25th November and 9th December 2019. The purpose of this public engagement exercise was to help us understand how people currently travel between Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station and Thame and, in doing so, help us to assess whether it would be beneficial to introduce an off-road walking and cycling route between these locations.

The online survey received a total of 2012 responses. The responses have now been analysed, a summary of the results has been published on a new designed webpage for the scheme:  https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/transport-and-roads/cycling-and-walking/new-walking-and-cycling-routes/haddenham-and-thame-greenway. 

The results of this online survey will be considered as part of the progression of the Haddenham and Thame Greenway scheme, alongside other information, and the scheme webpage will be updated as further information becomes available. 

Background work:

Dedicated officers from both County Councils are working on the Haddenham and Thame Greenway scheme, and provisional funding is available for progressing background work.

As part of this background work, Transport for Buckinghamshire has recently collected traffic speed and classification data at sites in the vicinity of Haddenham and Thame Parkway Station.  The data from these surveys shows the speed and type of vehicles travelling along these roads, and will be used to inform the scheme design work along this section.

We will endeavour to keep you informed as the scheme progresses through the bi-monthly scheme updates.