Parish News Update - April 2010

2010 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

7.30pm Colston Hall, Memorial Centre. All residents are warmly invited to attend this meeting to learn, discuss and ask questions on what is happening in Gerrards Cross. This year the Council will be inviting comments on the Parish-Plan 2010-2026 which affects all residents. Pick up your copy from the Parish Office , South Lodge, East Common or visit the Council’s website www.gerrardscross.gov.uk

THE TESCO TUNNEL

It took Tesco two years (from June 30, 2005, when the tunnel collapsed, to July 2007) to engage experts, investigate what had gone wrong and explore the feasibility of repairing and strengthening the tunnel. Having taken a decision to continue, there was another two years of detailed design work and preparation for the repair, and that phase lasted into the middle of 2009.

Now in the last 6 to 9 months there has been at last real progress towards repairing the tunnel and finishing the job. Firstly the gap where the tunnel segments had collapsed onto the railway line had to be filled with new segments of the same design as before. However, this time the segments were joined together more securely where they meet at the top of the arch.

Another part of the repair has involved constructing a reinforced concrete arch over those tunnel segments. Instead of bringing in ready-made segments as before, however, this new structure is being constructed by pouring concrete on site over steel reinforcing rods. This new structure will take the weight of everything above, including the infill material and the store itself. Huge steel bolts at metre intervals down each side of the tunnel ensure that the two structures are locked together.

One of the contributory factors to the accident was uneven loading of the infill material over the tunnel so that the segments began to bend out of shape until some of them broke. Costain and Network Rail wanted to know that no undue bending was taking place while the project continued.

Each tunnel segment has been fitted with a monitoring device reflecting a beam of light back to a measuring station inside the tunnel adjacent to the railway line. This can detect flexing of as little as one millimetre in those concrete segments and continuous computer monitoring of those movements ensures that the big strains which caused the tunnel to collapse on June 30, 2005 would be detected now at an early stage before they became dangerous.

The new reinforced concrete arch is complete at both ends and is being finished in the middle now. Progress is fast and the Tesco foodstore is expected to open in time for Christmas 2010.

HIGHWAYS ON CALL

Residents will have been saddened to learn of the fatal accident to a schoolgirl on the A413 between Tatling End and Chalfont St Peter. The streetlights are turned-off on that section and it is understood the accident may have been caused by a car hitting flood water following which the driver lost control. If you see a flood do phone Highways on Call on 0845 2302882 or out of office hours, 01296 486630.

SPEEDING

Speed activated signs have now been installed on the Fulmer Road and the Parish Council’s Highways Committee is seeking consent to install another on the Windsor Road. Evidence shows they are effective in slowing speeding motorists but the downside is that they cost £5000 each.

OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT

Apparently Gerrards Cross has the 4^th worst carbon footprint in Bucks! One suggestion to help lower this, apart from walking/cycling to school, work or the station, is to ensure security lights are switched off during the day. Often we see them left on serving no useful purpose.

WAPSEYS WOOD RECYCLING SITE

The site operators, Veolia, have announced that they will be requesting from Bucks County Council  an extension of the date to restore the site to green belt from the current restoration date of 2012 to 2020. The Parish Council will strongly oppose this request.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES

The Parish Council’s Youth Committee is working with the Gerrards Cross Youth Club to plan an activities day on the Commons and a Disco at the Club. Watch our website www.gerrardscross.gov.uk and the Notice Boards for details and dates.

Cllr. M May CBE

Communications Chairman

April 2010