Bucks / Herts Cross County issues

Dear Highways / Road Safety Teams,

I am writing to raise concerns regarding pedestrian safety on Chesham Road (B4505), and the impact of public footpath closures connected with activity at Space Studios on Bovingdon Airfield.

The public footpath from Whelpley Hill to Bovingdon is currently the only safe pedestrian route from Whelpley Hill to the nearest shops and services. When that footpath is closed, the alternative would be walking along Chesham Road (B4505), which is not a safe pedestrian route.

I am contacting the Highways / Road Safety teams directly following correspondence with Buckinghamshire Film Office, in which they advised that matters outside the Film Office’s remit should be raised with the appropriate council services via the usual channels. I am therefore writing to make sure the highways and pedestrian safety issues are formally logged with the relevant teams.

I am also having to raise this with both counties separately, as there does not appear to be a clear joined-up email route for cross-boundary issues of this kind. My concern is that the public footpath closure and Chesham Road (B4505) safety issue sit across both Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire / Dacorum responsibilities, but the practical impact is felt directly by Whelpley Hill residents.

Recent production activity at Space Studios on Bovingdon Airfield has involved a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order for closure of the public footpath. Residents in Whelpley Hill have previously experienced closures of this route without clear advance warning, despite the fact that it removes the only safe pedestrian connection between Whelpley Hill and Bovingdon. My concern is straightforward: unless a proper pedestrian footpath is installed along Chesham Road (B4505), any closure of the existing public footpath leaves residents without a safe walking route.

Please could you confirm: Whether Chesham Road (B4505) has been assessed as a pedestrian route between Whelpley Hill and Bovingdon; Whether t