The Wing Traffic Action group ( WINGTAG) has concerned itself over the last two years with traffic calming and the need for a by-pass for Wing. Parents dare not let their children walk to school and it can sometimes take 10 minutes for a pedestrian to cross the road.

Heavy east – west traffic is increasing by 5% each year and will further increase by about 30% when and if the Linslade by-pass is built.

This by-pass would however reduce north – south traffic in the High Street, currently an evening racetrack.

During the last 3 years 11 people have died on the A 418 road here.

Traffic Calming

In the absence of a bypass only limited traffic calming is possible. A majority of Wing drivers have signed a pledge to respect speed limits, and have put "30 m.p.h. in Wing" stickers on their windscreens. This self – help has been praised by the County Council.

The Parish Council have funded entry "gates" and two traffic islands.

Little can be done about remaining hazards at present, but at the roadside villagers regularly display placards reminding drivers to drive carefully in Wing.

Bypass for Wing.

The bypass planned by Bucks County Council turned out to be a four lane highway. This went either (S2) through a designated area of natural beauty, through an archaeological site, close to the most peaceful part of the Ascott National Trust Garden and to houses on the edge of the village, or (N) to Wing’s Saxon church and the houses of some Wing parish councillors.

The County Council had been asked in writing in 1991 to survey and assess other routes, but they neither acted nor replied. It was left to a public inquiry to act on this and endorse a locally proposed outer route. Government finance was later withdrawn, and the County Council (rather to our surprise in view of the many deaths) says it has higher priorities.

More than 1000 villagers signed a petition for a bypass presented to the House of Commons by our local M.P.

The Government’s Integrated Transport policy shows no sign of influencing the H.G.V. and commuter traffic which creates Wing’s problem. Like other villages, we would like the proceeds of the unpopular fuel tax to be spent on roads and bypasses before it is too late and traffic jams form in Wing, probably within ten years.

Do you want to join in?

You may live in a village in Bucks which has similar problems: or you may have ideas (such as the Private Finance Initiative) for early construction of a bypass.

If so, please email wingit@talk21.com