Fears for safety of women and children on unlit Bucks road

A lack of street lighting along a heavily wooded road leading from a new housing estate in Buckingham towards the town centre is causing safety concerns among some residents.

People living in St. Rumbold’s Fields, a large new development on Tingewick Road, are said to face unnecessary risks while walking towards town because of a 250-metre unlit stretch of road from the estate to Westfields.

An issue was raised at the recent Buckingham Town Council Planning Committee regarding poor visibility for pedestrians and cyclists travelling to work and school, and for parents and children travelling to the Day Nursery.

It was also suggested that the lack of lighting may cause residents to drive rather than walk or cycle, resulting in thousands of unnecessary car journeys each month and ultimately leading to more pollution and traffic.

Mayor of Buckingham, councillor Margaret Gateley said: “It is extraordinary that there should be no street lighting on this busy stretch of road.

“This follows recent national safety concerns about women in particular walking during the hours of darkness.

“We should be doing everything we can, not only to encourage people to walk relatively short distances, rather than to use their cars, but also to keep them safe.

“St. Rumbold’s Fields is a large housing development on the edge of the town. Many young families live there. Now that the clocks have gone back children and young people will be walking home from school in the dark along this unlit road.

“They will also need to cross the road with its 50 mph speed limit in order to access St Rumbold’s Fields, as there is only a footpath on the opposite side of the road. We need not only to press for street lighting here, but also for a reduction in the speed limit to 30 mph.

“These two measures would make walking to school or into the town a much safer and more attractive option for all and would also reduce the carbon footprint.”

Unfortunately, since street lighting was not part of the original agreement with the developers of the new estate, it may be some time before funding can be found to alter the situation.

However, a safe cycleway from the estate to local schools was part of the development agreement, and so when this is built it may at least offer safe passageway to and from school for children.

It’s not clear when the cycleway will be constructed at this time.

[PICTURE BELOW: Mayor of Buckingham, Margaret Gateley]