As local elections approach, calls to make a Wycombe road safer are renewed
A father initiated a petition to make Hughenden Road safer after his two sons were hit by a car
Less than two weeks to go until voters take to the polls in Buckinghamshire.
Ahead of the votes, we are hearing of renewed calls to make a road safer in High Wycombe, on which two teenagers were hit by a vehicle.
The incident occurred in November 2023 when Mitch Warner’s sons, aged 13 and 16, were trying to cross Hughenden Road to meet friends ahead of a fireworks display.
One carriageway stopped for them, but a vehicle from the opposite direction did not, resulting in both boys being hit. They were taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital and discharged the same evening.
While the physical injuries were relatively minor, Mr Warner said the experience left both children shaken and anxious.
Mr Warner said: "Once we knew that they were OK, then that's when the real anger to the situation really came on, and that's why I really did start to look into what could be done about it."
He launched a petition calling on Buckinghamshire County Council to create a pedestrian crossing, which gained over 180 signatures.
The petition cited the road’s proximity to Hughenden Park, local bus stops, and residential areas on both sides, arguing that pedestrians should not be expected to walk 700 metres out of their way to the nearest official crossing.
Mr Warner told Greatest Hits Radio that at a council meeting, members acknowledged the risks at the junction but said there was no current funding available, and was told the matter could be recommended for consideration by the new council after the upcoming local elections.
To make the road safer, Mr Warner suggested either redesigning the road to include a roundabout, or creating a safe crossing.
He said: "it effectively is a crossroads and yet there is no traffic control there whatsoever, and I think that's partly what leads to the problem.
"If there was some sort of redesign of the junction that would help. We would be happy to accept just like a Pelican crossing or some other clear indication to drivers that there is a safe space where pedestrians can can cross the road."
A Buckinghamshire Council spokesperson said: "Road safety is one of our top priorities, and while the ePetition for a new pedestrian crossing on Hughenden Road in High Wycombe does not meet the criteria for funding from the Network Safety Budget, our High Wycombe Community Board may be able to explore opportunities for funding from a third party, such as a property developer."