Hedge overhanging highway on Vale Road, Opposite Ivy Cottage

Updates

• All wild birds are protected. This includes their nests (whilst in use or being built) as well as any eggs the nest may contain. Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), it is an offence to:

  • intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird
  • intentionally damage, destroy or take the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built (nests of golden eagle, white tailed eagle and osprey are protected all year round)
  • intentionally destroy an egg of any wild bird
  • intentionally or recklessly disturb certain wild birds or their dependent young while they are nesting (including disturbance of nesting young)

  Although no dates are legally stated between which hedges cannot be trimmed, cut, laid or coppiced, the main bird breeding season is recognised as being between 1 March and 31 July which we adhere to. Please note, if the issue reported is classified by our Highway Officer as an emergency, arrangements will be made to make the hedge safe for both road and pedestrian users in line with our Highways Safety Inspection Policy.

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 08:16, Thursday 12 March 2026

• Update

  We have reviewed the issue reported and have amended the category; this will ensure your report is directed to the most appropriate team at the council.

  State changed to: For Triage

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 16:40, Wednesday 8 April 2026

• The report has been passed to the Highway Officer, who will carry out an inspection of the issue within 10 working days, emergency defects will be corrected or made safe at the time of the inspection, if reasonably practicable to do so. In this context, making safe may constitute displaying warning notices, coning‐off or fencing‐off to protect the public from the defect or other suitable action. If the inspection team cannot make safe the defect at the time of inspection, then they will instigate the relevant emergency call procedures to ensure appropriate resources are mobilised to make the defect safe.

  There may also be occasions when the issue reported will not be repaired as it has been classified as a minor defect and does not pose any risk to either the safety or the integrity of the highway, these are called minimum recording levels as specified in our Highways Safety Inspection Policy in these cases no action will be taken.

  During winter months we receive a very high number of reports regarding potholes or a poor road surface, it's easy to assume that potholes are formed due to roads being poorly maintained but that is not usually the case. There are many factors that can cause potholes, particularly during the winter months when water seeps in through cracks in the road surface, collecting underneath and when the water freezes, it expands and creates cracks in the road surface. Our priority is always the safety of road users, so in some cases during busy periods a permanent repair is not always possible immediately. However, temporary repairs are a way to ensure the area is safe until such times as we can return to make a permanent repair.
  

  State changed to: Open

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 13:45, Friday 17 April 2026

• Update

  We have reviewed the issue reported and have amended the category; this will ensure your report is directed to the most appropriate team at the council.

  State changed to: For Triage

  Posted by Buckinghamshire Council at 07:41 today