Update from East West Rail

The first direct rail link in more than 50 years between Oxford, Bedford, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury has been given the green light for further work.

Today (Tuesday 4 February) the Secretary of State for Transport approved Network Rail’s Transport and Works Act Order application, granting permission for work to begin on the next phase of East West Rail.

Once complete, phase 2 of East West Rail would connect communities and businesses between Oxford and Bedford, and Milton Keynes and Aylesbury, with:

• Two trains per hour each way between Oxford and Milton Keynes
• One train per hour each way between Oxford and Bedford
• One train per hour each way between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury

The new railway will also connect the Great Western main line, Chiltern main line, West Coast main line and Midland main line – providing passengers with much-improved cross-country rail links from East to West.

This would help create jobs, boost economic growth, encourage people out of their cars and onto public transport and enable sustainable housing development for generations to come.

Tim Shoveller, managing director for Network Rail’s North West & Central Region, said: “Building a new railway would transform connectivity and journey times across the heart of the country. East West Rail promises to provide a greener, low carbon transport system which will bring huge benefits to passengers and businesses – driving economic growth and creating opportunities for housing and new jobs.”

Cllr Mark Shaw, chairman of the East West Rail Consortium, an alliance of local authorities which produced the original business case for the scheme, said: “This has to go down as one of the most exciting weeks in the history of East West Rail, with approval to begin major construction of the Western section coming just days after the preferred route between Bedford and Cambridge was announced. East West Rail will transform the way people travel within and across the region, supporting communities, boosting businesses, unlocking job opportunities, and getting people out of their cars. The Consortium and the local authorities along the line will continue to work with Network Rail and its partners to ensure the western section is now delivered as quickly and smoothly as possible.”

With phase 1 between Oxford and Bicester already complete, phase 2 involves track and signalling upgrades between Bicester, Bedford, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes, including reinstating a disused section of railway between Bletchley and Claydon Junction, north of Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

The work will deliver significant improvements to local travel, with the phased introduction of new rail journeys between:

• Oxford and Milton Keynes: with trains stopping at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow and Bletchley.
• Oxford and Bedford: with trains stopping at Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley, Woburn Sands and Ridgmont.
• Milton Keynes and Aylesbury: with trains stopping at Bletchley, Winslow and Aylesbury Vale Parkway

The East West Rail project is planned to be built progressively in phases, and once constructed would create a world-class rail link connecting Oxford, Bicester, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge.

For more information you can visit: www.networkrail.co.uk/east-west-rail/

Coronavirus update from Steeple Claydon Parish Council

Please note the PC have made a collective decision to CLOSE the LIBRARY with immediate effect due to CV. (17/03/2020)

The hall is now CLOSED with immediate effect (21/03/2020)

Children's Play Corner in the Recreation Ground is now CLOSED with immediate effect (23/03/2020)

You can also join the Steeple Claydon Support Network on Facebook if you can volunteer or require CV self isolation support.

Flyers have now been posted through letterboxes with a volunteer neighbour's details if needed.

Latest Update from High Speed Two

The health, safety and wellbeing of the communities along the route of the new railway remains our absolute priority alongside that of our staff.

We are working closely with our construction partners to review the works on our construction sites in line with Government and Public Health England (PHE) advice on dealing with COVID-19. The Government’s current COVID-19 strategy makes clear that construction activity can continue so long as work can comply with this guidance.

It is our expectation that work at the majority of our sites will be paused as we complete this review over the next week or so, noting that some staff may be present to make the safety assessments and to ensure the sites remain safe and secure. In locations where the work will progress we will continue to keep you updated. We then expect that work will restart at some of these sites where our contractors are confident that they can operate in line with PHE and industry guidance. Work will stop at other sites.

Please be assured that only those construction sites that can protect the local community and our staff and will remain in operation.

As you may know, we have also taken the decision to postpone our face-to-face engagement events and meetings during this period. We have been notifying local residents and are looking at alternative ways of engaging with communities over the coming weeks and months.

The HS2 Helpdesk remains operational all day, every day, and will be the public’s first point of contact should they need advice or information from HS2.

The HS2 Helpdesk can be contacted by:

•             Telephone: 08081 434 434 (freephone)

•             Minicom: 08081 456 472

•             Email: hs2enquiries@hs2.org.uk

Update on fighting coronavirus in Buckinghamshire

Message from Cllr Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council

Dear Resident,

We have now become one new council, Buckinghamshire Council, providing all council services in Buckinghamshire, to all of our residents, as one team.

This change has come at an incredibly testing time but I am so proud of how our teams have risen to the challenge. We are working together as one new organisation to do everything we possibly can to support our residents through the coronavirus crisis.

I talk more about our new Council in my video updates – so please take a look atwww.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/video-updates to find out a bit more about how the new Council can help if you need support because of the coronavirus outbreak – and of course how to access all your usual council services.

Buckinghamshire Council - our way of working

We have staff working across different areas outside their normal jobs as we direct Buckinghamshire Council resources towards managing the coronavirus outbreak to help and support our residents, especially the most vulnerable.

In an incredibly short space of time, we have set up local support hubs and an online community space for coronavirus related information. Through our team of fantastic volunteers we are taking food parcels to the most vulnerable people who need them.

This is a monumental achievement and I want to pay tribute to all of our Buckinghamshire Council staff for making this happen. And of course, I must highlight again the amazing, inspiring work being done by volunteers, community groups and local businesses right across the county; more on this below. Thank you to each and every one of you.

If you need help and support or if you want to find out more please use the online hub atwww.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/coronavirus

Could your business help us?

If your business or organisation is in a position to help us deliver critical services by donating time or resources, please do register your support via our website here.

This support will help us continue to provide necessary services to some of the most vulnerable people in the county during this difficult time. We hugely appreciate any offers of help.

Update on where food parcels have been delivered

We’ve already sent out 50 food parcels directly to households, 10 parcels have been donated to young people who have recently left our care, and parcels have also been taken to the new Aylesbury and High Wycombe hubs to go to people who need them the most. We have also donated 40 boxes of supplies to local food banks. Massive thanks to our volunteers who’ve been delivering these.