24 April, 2025 By Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to reject HS2 Ltd's planning application for a groundwater monitoring chamber in Wendover could cost “tens of millions of pounds” due to construction delays The application for the spring chamber and flow monitoring chamber with an upgraded access track near Wendover was rejected by Buckinghamshire Council’s strategic sites committee at a meeting on 16 April Councillors voted by eight to one to reject the application on the basis that upgrading the existing access track could cause “harm” to the “landscape character” The chamber – a simple underground concrete box – would be in a farmer’s field near High Speed 2’s (HS2’s) Wendover green tunnel site HS2 Ltd's main works contractor in the area is EKFB - comprising Eiffage so the application must follow the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act The Environment Agency requires HS2 Ltd to avoid impacting the water levels of the Stoke and Wendover Brook further downstream in line with current environmental legislation the chamber is needed to mitigate the effects of groundwater flows in the area due to the works at the tunnel site HS2 Ltd said that it is unable to move the Wendover green tunnel to the next stage of construction as it cannot obtain Environment Agency consent for the works without the chamber the council’s decision could cost the taxpayer “tens of millions of pounds” due to the knock-on delays to the construction of nearby structures The council voted to reject the application despite the recommendations of its own officers to approve it The council’s HS2 highways officer confirmed that the impacts of the construction route on highway safety and congestion were “not considered to be significant within the Wendover area” and were “considered to be acceptable on highway grounds” A report presented to the committee noted that the total number of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) trips over the entire construction programme is 120 which was originally suggested in January 2025 The council’s landscape officer considered the proposed development would cause “significant harm” to the protected Chilterns National Landscape But the report acknowledged that without these works there would be “severe environmental impacts to the area and to the water bodies of the Wendover and Stoke Brooks” Officers concluded that the “harm identified is outweighed by the benefits of the proposal” and therefore recommended to approve the application But councillors and residents at the committee meeting raised concerns about the volume of proposed construction traffic that the works would bring Councillor Peter Cooper said that “methods of access” to the proposed chamber were “clearly the problem” “Many people who live on the north side of Wendover who access the main part of town the high street and the train station will be using Dobbins Lane – it’s an important access,” he said The councillor added that construction trucks would be working “right on that very busy junction at the end of Dobbins Lane Councillors raised concerns about the "very busy junction" at the end of Dobbins Lane Councillor Frank Mahon said that the committee and the residents agreed that the chamber was necessary But he also raised concerns about the access route and claimed that HS2 Ltd had not properly consulted with residents about the proposed works “It seems to be a one-way traffic here when it comes to consultation […] Once again HS2 have failed to consult or listen to the local residents They have made it quite clear under cross examination that they did not look for an alternative even though they knew the strength of feeling in the community about this access route they didn’t bother to consider or look at an alternative access point it’s HS2 feeling they can just ride over residents no matter whether it’s inside the act or outside the act I will not be supporting this application today.” Councillor Phil Gomm likewise stated his concerns about the application’s impacts on surrounding highways “I say that what we do is we do agree to the chamber but we don’t agree to the access and the impact that it will have on those people of Wendover,” he told the meeting “It was a condition that HS2 originally set off in the first place never to affect the communities of Buckinghamshire and there we are it’s allowing them through the communities of Buckinghamshire to upset them even if it’s for three weeks He said that the application should be refused and HS2 Ltd should be given the opportunity to develop a different proposal that included a new access track But the council’s legal advisor Teresa Coppock warned the committee against refusing the application on highway grounds because the appraisal carried out by the council’s officers concluded that there was “no defensible reason” to refuse the application on highways refusing the application on highway grounds would “leave the council vulnerable to an award of cost should the applicant appeal” “That’s like holding us over a barrel,” replied Gomm “[Let’s] oppose it on the grounds of landscaping if that’s the case.” The council’s major development team leader Sarah Armstrong agreed with the solicitor noting that “the test is that it has to impact highway safety” She suggested that the committee instead consider the “harm” that the proposed route may cause to the “landscape character” of the area She said: “We identify in the report harm to the landscape character in the immediate setting […] there’s also harm to the wider landscape character area but its to footpath users and to the residential properties nearby “Then we come back to the fact that it is within the national landscape and the landscape officer has identified harm which in their view could be reasonably avoided or reduced and therefore we are contrary to the duty in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 I think that’s a defendable reason for refusal which has reflected the debate that’s taken place.” The majority of councillors therefore voted to refuse the application on the grounds that Armstrong proposed HS2 Ltd said: “We are disappointed by the committee’s decision given that the council’s own officers recommended approval As was made clear during the committee meeting the cost to the taxpayer of this decision risks running into tens of millions of pounds as a result of knock-on delays to the construction of nearby structures HS2 Ltd highlighted that only one HGV travelling at no more than 20mph would have been permitted on Dobbins Lane at any one time and traffic flow would have been managed to avoid the school run The company said it is now considering its next steps Want to read more? Subscribe to GE’s enewsletters and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn Tagged with: A second TBM has arrived at Green Park Way in west London marking the completion of its 8km long drive for HS2’s Northolt tunnel Ground Engineering's monthly round-up of events from across the geotechnical sector includes GE's Piling & Foundations conference Construction of the HS2 A43 overbridge near Brackley has made significant strides Balfour Beatty’s outgoing chief executive has said that contracts for the construction of HS2 should not be renegotiated as part of the project’s ongoing reset Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wendover Management the property management division of Wendover Housing Partners one of the Southeast’s leading multifamily housing developers is now accepting applications for Brentwood Commons a new affordable housing community in Atlanta Brentwood Commons will provide 112 thoughtfully designed one- delivering much-needed housing in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas As Atlanta ranks as the third-fastest growing region in the U.S. the demand for affordable housing has intensified According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2025 Gap Report the Atlanta metro area has only 27 affordable and available homes for every 100 extremely low-income households—falling below the national average 81% of extremely low-income renters are severely cost-burdened spending more than half of their income on rent and utilities Brentwood Commons aims to alleviate this strain by offering quality the need for affordable housing has never been more urgent,” said Ryan von Weller “Brentwood Commons will not only provide high-quality but it will also create a true sense of community where people can thrive.” Monthly rents at Brentwood Commons will start at approximately $1,116 for one-bedroom units and $1,527 for three-bedroom units Residents will also have access to a range of community amenities designed to foster connection and convenience Brentwood Commons was designed by Slocum Platts Architects with NorSouth Constructs serving as the general contractor Construction is on track for completion in summer 2025 For photos of Brentwood Commons, click here For additional information about Wendover, visit www.brentwoodcommonsapts.com Media ContactBrianna KoenigUproar by Moburst for WendoverBrianna.Koenig@moburst.com The London Road from Rocky Lane to Nash Lee Road roundabout will be closed The Wendover Bypass will have a southbound closure in place and the Missenden Bypass will be closed northbound The work will see steel beams pushed into place for the Small Dean Viaduct.  The official diversion will take motorists via Princes Risborough and High Wycombe Chiltern Railways have also advised passengers that the work will lead to changes to their timetable There will be no services between London and Aylesbury this weekend (Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February). As a result of the planned engineering works the railway is closed between Great Missenden and Aylesbury all weekend No Chiltern Railways train services will operate between Marylebone and Aylesbury Vale Parkway (via Amersham) Rail replacement buses will operate in both directions as follows connecting with London Underground Metropolitan Line services to/from Baker Street at Amersham                 HS2 today revealed stunning new timelapse footage showing engineers carefully sliding a 3,700-tonne viaduct deck almost half a kilometre uphill into position near the town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire The deck of the Wendover Dean Viaduct – which stretches for 450m – was assembled in three stages with each one pushed out from the north abutment before the next section was attached behind it eight-month long process meant that the weight of the deck increased with each push up from an initial 590 tonnes at the start of work in January - to 3,700 tonnes by the time it reached the south abutment on Saturday It is one of 50 major viaducts on the HS2 project – which is designed to improve connections between London Birmingham and the North while freeing up space on the most congested southern end of the existing West Coast Main Line special pads covered in Teflon - a material usually found on the surface of a non-stick frying pan - were used to minimise friction between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on top of each of the concrete piers the deck – which weighs the same as 264 double-decker buses - was pushed slightly uphill with the finish point approximately 1.8m higher than the start point engineers can begin the challenging job of lowering the deck 60cm onto the permanent bearings which will support the full weight of the structure The two-month long operation will see the steelwork above each pier carefully lowered by 20cm at a time until the whole 450m long deck settles into its final position “The last eight months have been incredible and I’d like to thank everyone involved in getting us to where we are today It’s been fascinating to watch the deck slowly inch into position and we now look forward to the next stage of the project – lowering the deck into final position and completing the complex concrete work that will support the new railway.” work can begin on the concrete that will support the railway using a specially designed travelling formwork this stage is expected to take around a year and will be followed by the installation of the parapets along the edge of the viaduct The Wendover Dean Viaduct is the first major railway bridge in the UK to be built with a ‘double composite’ structure which uses significantly less carbon-intensive concrete and steel than a more traditional design Instead of using solid pre-stressed concrete beams to form the spans between the viaduct piers the hollow ‘double composite’ structure uses two steel beams sandwiched between two layers of reinforced concrete to create a more efficient super strong span.  A similar approach is also being used at Small Dean which are all at an earlier stage of construction All five viaducts are being built by HS2 Ltd’s main works contractor Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall – with the manufacture and installation of the beams being led by specialists at Eiffage Metal “The final launch for Wendover Dean viaduct marks two years of teamwork from EKFB and our supply chain partners Eiffage Metal I am very proud of our progress and would like to thank the team for their ongoing commitment to the safe delivery of the viaduct we will see the viaduct lowered onto its permanent bearings in preparation for its concrete deck.” The last few months has also seen significant progress at HS2’s other major viaducts including the key structures that will form the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire and the viaducts taking the railway into Birmingham Curzon Street HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – ranging from small road bridges to the record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which will become the longest railway bridge in the UK when the deck is finished later this year A large group of residents in Wendover attended an HS2 "drop-in" session yesterday afternoon They were protesting against HS2's proposed use of South Street and Dobbins Lane as a major route for HGVs HS2 defend their preferred option to use Dobbins Lane to access fields where they will be working and have said they plan to reduce the number of  lorries using the Wendover roads and say it's dangerous to the have a large volume of HGVs using the routes HS2 has responded to criticism by emphasizing that Dobbins Lane remains the most practical option for access they have carefully evaluated alternative routes but found none as suitable following detailed design refinements with their contractors they have reduced the number of HGVs expected to use Dobbins Lane to an average of one return journey per day over a 12-week period The company assures residents that vehicle speeds will be capped at 20mph and traffic flow will be managed to avoid the school run HS2 argues that Dobbins Lane already accommodates HGVs and bin lorries and they see no reason why well-managed HS2 traffic would pose any additional risk to pedestrians or cyclists has expressed his concern about HS2’s plans and their lack of due diligence in exploring alternative routes for the project Cobb shared that HS2 had initially claimed 150 lorries would travel along Dobbins Lane but now state the number will be reduced to 60 and there remains ongoing opposition from the community which has gathered over 750 signatures on a petition Full interview with local Wendover resident David Cobb Mr Cobb criticized HS2 for not fully exploring alternative routes particularly a shorter option near King's Farm Shop which could cross fields closer to the area where the spring chambers are planned He revealed that HS2 has claimed they couldn’t secure access rights for this route they have not spoken to the farmer or landowner who would be open to discussing access with appropriate compensation he shared that in response to his Freedom of Information request HS2 confirmed they have no record of contacting relevant agencies and their claims of conducting a thorough assessment have been downgraded to a "careful consideration," raising questions about the transparency and integrity of their decision-making process Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport at Buckinghamshire Council has provided an update on the planning permission for the HS2 project He confirmed that planning permission has not yet been granted for the proposal The application for Dobbins Lane has only just been submitted and is currently being reviewed for validation to ensure it is complete the application will be considered by the council most likely by the Strategic Sites Committee Martin emphasized that the council will thoroughly assess the application and may request further information from HS2 before making a decision He reassured that the council cannot prejudge the outcome and that the decision will be made through the proper planning process Martin also clarified that while HS2 has certain powers under the HS2 Act however is subject to the Town and Country Planning Act meaning the usual HS2 rules do not apply in this case When challenged about the disruption to local wildlife if an alternative route was used, Mr Cobb went on to challenge the claims about the presence of marsh grass and reeds that typically indicate the presence of wildlife habitats He stated that after walking the area recently Peter Martin also addressed concerns from local residents regarding the HS2 project Martin emphasized that while residents may be frustrated the council is not to blame for the project as it was not initiated or desired by them He acknowledged the importance of the drainage work being carried out as part of the project but the main concern lies with the access route through the heart of Wendover Martin explained that the council had pressed HS2 for more detailed information on the number of HGVs required and the proposed routes Although the number of vehicles has been reduced he would still not want such large vehicles using local roads despite the council’s efforts to minimize impact they cannot simply reject the application or make decisions on behalf of HS2 The final decision will be made by the planning committee Mr Martin emphasized that the application has not yet been fully analysed and that no decision has been predetermined He reassured the public that the process is not a foregone conclusion and will be carefully reviewed I was thrilled to pick up an email from Bruce Li asking if we could add him to the roster as photographer in the morning I couldn’t wait to welcome him to Wendover Woods in the morning knowing he would produce a fantastic set of photos as a record of Event #273 at Wendover Woods parkun So, if a picture can speak a thousand words, I don't think you need any more words from me by way of a run report. See for yourself what a fantastic morning we all had in the Woods on Saturday, by heading over to https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC7Xp9 for the whole album of 506 photos Photos are downloadable in high quality via the download button on the individual photo(s) I’ve just put a small selection of Bruce’s 506 photos below as a taster Above: Just some of the happy faces before the event Above: Milestones this week: Lucinda ran her 25th (bagging a PB too as well as beating her Dad!) and Holly (pale green top) completed her 300th Above: Everyone still smiling at the finish Above: Just some of this week's fabulous volunteers © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner Your guide to London's culture and transport news and events taking place across the city Published on 13th August 2024 by ianVisits in Transport News A new railway viaduct has been completed just outside London as part of the HS2 railway passing near Wendover The Wendover Dean Viaduct passes over a wide valley just south of Wendover and was constructed by building a series of piers first then sliding the bridge – all 3,700 tonnes of it – onto the piers from the northern end This eight-month process meant that the deck’s weight increased with each push up from an initial 590 tonnes at the start of work in January to 3,700 tonnes by the time it reached the south abutment on Saturday special pads covered in Teflon – a material usually found on the surface of a non-stick frying pan – were used to minimise friction between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on top of each of the concrete piers engineers can start lowering the deck onto the permanent bearings which will support the full weight of the structure Nicola Henderson-Reid said: “The last eight months have been incredible the hollow ‘double composite’ structure uses two steel beams sandwiched between two layers of reinforced concrete to create a more efficient super strong span A similar approach is also being used at Small Dean All five viaducts are being built by HS2’s main works contractor This website has been running now for over a decade, and while advertising revenue contributes to funding the website, it doesn't cover the costs. That is why I have set up a facility with DonorBox where you can contribute to the costs of the website and time invested in writing and research for the news articles It's very similar to the way The Guardian and many smaller websites are now seeking to generate an income in the face of rising costs and declining advertising Whether it's a one-off donation or a regular giver every additional support goes a long way to covering the running costs of this website and keeping you regularly topped up doses of Londony news and facts If you like what you read on here, then please support the website here I am horrified at this article which is total lies I live in Wendover and have the dubious pleasure of trying to drive along the A413 most days where these works are taking place The whole area is a vision of devastation and traffic hold ups are horrendous The pictures you show are artist’s impressions I will show your article to ask many people as possible including my MP Only the cgi is an artist impression of what the finished site will look like – the rest are all real from this month That’s small dean viaduct that you pass through on A413 not the Wendover viaduct – confusing I know It’s amazing to see the progress being made on HS2 although it’ll be worth it in the long run The UK needs rail investment on this scale – this is long overdue and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and the latest news published on ianVisits You can unsubscribe at any time from my weekly emails © ianVisits the students entered the heart of British government and experienced a memorable day that combined education with history Clark led an interactive lesson on Winston Churchill diving into his leadership during World War II and his lasting influence on Britain the students embarked on a guided tour of Downing Street learning about the building’s rich history and its role in the daily operations of the British government They explored rooms where pivotal decisions have been made gaining unique insights into the workings of government The experience was further enriched by a meeting with Larry who has resided at Downing Street for over a decade This encounter with the famous feline was a delightful addition to the students' visit Pictures from John Colet School LinkedIn page the Year 8 students displayed exceptional enthusiasm earning praise from the organisers and staff at Downing Street Their insightful questions and keen engagement reflected their deep interest in British history and government The visit provided them with a rare opportunity to connect with the country's political heritage leaving them with a greater appreciation for the workings of government John Colet School is proud of its students for making the most of this once-in-a-lifetime learning experience Get your free copy of Speciality Food Magazine James Grant fizzes with enthusiasm when prompted to talk about his favourite topic – food With his nose pointed firmly in the direction of hospitality chatting with people and looking after them “I think the most fabulous thing was the idea of being able to make any occasion a special occasion,” he says how can you make it the best business lunch someone’s ever had James went on to run Wiltons restaurant on London’s Jermyn Street whilst I was still in London running the restaurant I decided it would be a great idea to open a shop if something came up in my little town of Wendover in Buckinghamshire I put an application in to a premises and they said it had already gone and a couple of days later they came back to me and said We’ve been running the shop for nearly 15 years now!” Market research is important when you’re thinking about setting up a new business and James didn’t just go to town while conjuring the idea for what would become No 2 Pound Street – he went to Paris With his best friend tagging along for the ride he made it his mission to explore what makes a great food/cheese/wine shop winding up in little hole-in-the-wall type affairs where buying wine almost inevitably ends up becoming a social event picked up a bottle from the shelf and asked if we could drink it there and put it into a chilling machine which got it super cold in three to four minutes She asked if we wanted cheese to go with it Then she excused herself and went across the road to the boulangerie to buy some crusty beautiful Comte and Alsatian wine was just amazing The original ‘blueprint’ for No 2 Pound Street was imagined then: wine “Our mission was to come back to the shop and have some spectacular wines from small growers From my office in London I called several of the best cheesemakers in the UK who I’d met at Wiltons and already knew were brilliant.” welcoming table for tastings and casual boards over a glass of wine or coffee “Lots of people would come in and sit down for a platter And it was really lovely because they loved the food and then wanted to buy the cheese as a result to get even closer to ingredients and producers forging stronger relationships with those entrenched in the heart of the British artisan scene James made it his mission to spread his infectious adoration for all things foodie to his team “I felt they needed to be able to fully understand the journey that the producers have been on and how ingredients were grown or where they came from I’d been on my own journey of growth and knowledge and getting to better understand and work with cheesemakers led James down a delicious path putting craft British cheeses up on the pedestal he felt they deserved “to see how so many of the cheesemakers we work with have grown in the last decade I was one of the first shops outside of Paxtons and Neal’s Yard and I was incredibly proud to be doing that and to be a part of the evolution of cheesemongers There are some incredibly inspirational people out there.” The evolution of the shop has been led by cheese It was transformed from a cheese and wine store building on its range of ‘good things to eat and drink with cheese and charcuterie’ had a lasting impact on the shape of No 2 Pound Street “We lost all the seating from inside of the shop and we put new refrigeration and cupboards in to store more goods.”  the decision was made not to bring the original communal table back but rather to offer a bar set up at the window and a few seats outside to keep a steady flow of customers coming in and out “The other big changes are that now we’ve got a tasting room and a refining room for cheese We increased the refrigeration by around 600 to 700% so we can offer wholesale as well and we’re increasing the number of events we do too.” Cheese has James’ heart – which is why it’s such an intrinsic part of the business One of his most memorable ‘aha’ moments was eating Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese 20 years ago on his stag night at St John in London “The dessert was Lancashire cheese and baked Eccles cakes That combination of intense buttery notes and beautiful sweetness and crunch and treacle and that pushed my love of cheese even further.” “It’s so diverse and there are so many different styles going back tens of thousands of years It’s become more of a commodity because of industrial production and that’s why I got so inspired to talk about and sell ‘real’ cheese That is the type of cheese families would have used to feed themselves and nourish themselves in the past that’s handmade using milk from a single herd from farmers who are really conscious and look after their livestock and give them the very best lives so they can produce incredibly good milk.” “It’s really important nowadays to think about we want to look after the people that look after the animals.” Deli owners and cheesemongers like himself and important to helping those cheesemakers and farmers who are doing things ‘the right way’ In addition to making sure the counter at the deli brims with the best cheeses he can lay his hands on James launched The Real Cheese Project alongside friends to push the envelope further on the artisan British cheese The project has for the past two years hosted a virtual tasting event where members of the public can try various cheeses Last autumn Keen’s Extra Mature took the crown The Real Cheese Project has a monthly cheese box sending out a big wedge of whatever’s tasting good at the moment with an accompaniment and a ‘zine filled with information and stories as much as tasting the cheese,” James insists “It’s lots of fun and we’ve got lots of cool things lined up for this year.” one of the most important elements to getting your offering right and we all understand our business is about more than buying food – it’s an experience.” Being able to give the personal touch is what sets shops like his apart from the big multiples and I did them quite religiously for two or three years I remember the same people coming back saying It was really lovely to see their eyes light up while at the same time giving them damn good food Keeping on top of what customers do and don’t like with interest constantly rising in artisan varieties Soft and washed rind varieties seem to be piquing interest right now as well as melting cheeses like Raclette or British-made Ogleshield – which goes into the deli’s very popular toasties “Toasties are really cool and on point at the moment When I first wanted to sell them it was met with so much resistance from the team but I told them it’s the ultimate comfort food “There’s a big trend at the moment for really good handmade artisan ciders More people are thinking about British booze to pair with their cheese and it works perfectly.” “I’d say Old Winchester is one of the absolute favourites for all of my customers People who don’t know it might ask for Parmesan That cheese has become a really important part of the business for us.” Westcombe Charcuterie has James’ heart too His saucisson is the best I’ve ever eaten I was at a food festival and Raymond Blanc came over and tried some at my stand Then he went on to tell me off because I’d cut it too thick He explained how you have to cut it incredibly thinly so when you eat it Ever since then we’ve changed how we sample it “It’s nice to be able to put a spotlight on amazing products like this shop keepers and local businesses in the Wendover High Street say they've noticed a drop in weekly takings which enabled locals and visitors to Wendover to pop into the local shops One car park user couldn't understand why Bucks Council has made these changes saying they should be encouraging people to shop local not force them to out of town retail parks;  Bucks Radio visited the car park last week while shopper couldn't get her 'Ringo' app to open Another car park user told us this wasn't the first time he'd been unable to pay for his parking; We've contacted Buckinghamshire Council for their comments: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport said: "The one-hour parking charge at Wendover has been introduced following a public consultation that ran earlier this year The purpose of the charge is to start to harmonise the hours of control for all parking across the county ensuring the approach for paying for parking is consistent whilst continuing to allow Town and Parish Councils the option to fund free parking schemes as is commonly done in other parts of the county “Income from parking charges is used to fund the management enforcement and maintenance of the car parks Having the parking charges paid for by car park customers helps ensure that the costs are not inadvertently paid for by non-users of the car park through the use of other service area budgets.” Here are a few interesting pieces of information from the Council and their website: (external website) Information about the National Parking Platform (NPP): https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/parking/national-parking-platform/ https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/parking/pay-for-parking-in-a-council-car-park/ https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/parking/tell-us-about-a-parking-problem/ https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/parking/find-a-council-car-park/wendover-library-car-park/ another lovely morning in Wendover Woods for the 246 of you (including 45 people sampling our course for the first time) who joined us for a weekly dose of parkrun fun along our autumnal forest trail The freshly fallen leaves were perfect ‘cornflake’ consistency: dry and crunchy When asked at the briefing if anyone was celebrating a milestone Andy Hubble was the only person to disclose his It turned out not only was he running his 50th parkrun Congratulations and Happy 50th Birthday to Andy Hubble Our results revealed that there were a few more milestoners this week: Dan Baker & Joseph Brown each ran their 50th (both also achieving PBs this morning) Gill Gordon and Charles Keeping each ran their 25th parkruns Maybe they didn’t realise they were running a milestone They’ll soon twig when they start receiving emails from parkrun HQ marketing department tempting them with milestone T-shirts water bottles and more (hope Father Christmas is taking note too) Some great photos this morning from Martin Bishop who managed to capture lots of  smiley faces and flying feet He was waiting for you with his camera at about 1½ k into the run when you were still running mostly downhill hence the smiles Martin then scrambled his way back up the hill to the Finish where he managed to catch all but the very fastest of you again as you finished And with another type of camera, parkrun tourist James Lester recorded his run round Wendover Woods with a Go-Pro. You can find James's video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVm6xQEx1m0 Many thanks James This is Estelle - one of 14 people completing their first ever parkrun this morning - with proud mum Nathalie behind She is keen to come back next week and do it all again Lovely to see so many children enjoying their run Almost 10% of our runners this morning were under 18 6 of them under 11 - no mean feat on little legs Caption: Much kudos to our 5 buggy runners today Quite a challenge considering the nearly 100 metres of ascent involved (and traversing the downhill sections safely with a buggy is not easy either!) Did you know that out of the 760 UK parkruns only 37 have been ranked as more difficult than Wendover Woods (According to the ‘Power of 10’ rankings in 2023 ) So everybody who completes the course is amazing An amazing 39 of you managed to achieve PBs (Personal Bests) today – that’s almost 16% of you with any potential muddy patches covered in cornflakes dry leaves thank you very much to our 23 amazing volunteers this week without whom parkrun just wouldn't have happened We're always on the lookout for new volunteers so if you think you could help with any of our roles one Saturday morning, just drop us an e-mail at wendoverwoods@parkrun.com We've had 706 different individuals volunteer with us since we started in 2018  – could you be the 707th In case you’ve missed this news on our Facebook page a quick reminder about what is planned for 30th November As in previous years we’ll be celebrating all things Scottish you’ve still got time to search through your wardrobe/charity shop/internet for something tartan to wear – a tartan shirt We’ve got a piper who will be playing as you start and finish to set the atmosphere and we’re encouraging people to bring some Scottish fare for our refreshment table at the finish (shortbread Some pics from previous St Andrews Day parkruns @ Wendover Woods As always, for more news and photos don’t forget to visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wendoverwoodsparkrun After the success and fun of visiting Church Mead parkrun in 2024 my colleagues and I from Somek & Associates opted to visit another local parkrun this year to promote and raise awareness for our nominated charity this year – the Motor Neurone Disease Association We invited our friends from the MND Association to join us for a run and walk around Wendover Woods parkrun on Saturday morning We arrived excited and ready to go spoiled with a beautiful day and great atmosphere A few colleagues were new to parkrun and were corralled to listen to the first timers' briefing – incidentally delivered by a parkrun friend who happened to be volunteering at Wendover Woods this weekend we gathered around for the RD briefing and set off around the woods I did not recall the 'small incline' that rose to meet us on Saturday Despite being sure the end was around the bend many times it was a very enjoyable run – a sentiment more or less echoed by my colleagues who were thrilled with my recollection the day before of the “not so hilly” route… we cheered our team mates and other participants on at the finish line before heading to the café on site for a coffee and sustenance Virtuous exercise providing an opportunity for connecting with people:  team mates Some stats for the day are summed up below All details about Wendover Woods parkrun can be found on the parkrun website Locals have voiced strong opposition to the decision and the heightened risks to both residents and cyclists in the area Wendover HS2 Mitigation Action Group say: "Following a detailed evaluation of the North Cutting's impact on groundwater flows from the Coombe Hill aquifer the Environment Agency has instructed HS2's construction contractor to take action to protect local water systems EKFB is required to carefully measure and increase the flow of water into Stoke Brook EKFB plans to create a "Spring Chamber" – a concrete box approximately 3m square – to be buried in a field behind Kings Farm An inspection manhole will also be included as part of the works The Environment Agency has made it clear that this chamber must be in place before any further excavation of the Wendover Green Tunnel and North Cutting can proceed To facilitate the construction of the Spring Chamber EKFB proposes upgrading an existing track to allow heavy vehicles to cross the fields at the end of Dobbins Lane This route will also be used for ongoing maintenance access In discussions with Buckinghamshire Council (BC) officers EKFB has reportedly secured agreement in principle to transport materials and heavy equipment to the site via South Street and Dobbins Lane EKFB estimates that up to 12 Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) return trips per day could be required for the duration of the works sparking concerns about the increased traffic impact on local roads particularly South Street and Dobbins Lane which are already under scrutiny due to the proposed HS2 HGV route." “We are working hard to reduce disruption for local people during the construction of HS2 and will put in place measures to ensure safe access via Dobbins Lane This includes making sure there is only a single HGV on the lane at any one time limiting their speed to 20mph and managing the flow of vehicles to avoid the school run Dobbins Lane is already used by HGVs and bin lorries – and there is no reason to think that properly managed HS2 traffic would pose a greater risk to pedestrians or cyclists.” The protestors are calling on the Bucks Councillors A petition is also being circulated to gather support for alternative routes with residents pointing to three viable options that have reportedly been dismissed by HS2 due to costs and environmental concerns such as hedgerow damage Deputy Cabinet Member Transport (HS2/EWR) said:  “Buckinghamshire Council is in regular communication with EKFB (HS2’s contractor) about the details of the proposal and the access track  The Council will formally respond once the proposal is submitted as a Town and Country Planning Act application and a decision is made Unfortunately we have no control over when HS2 will submit that application.” Local voices argue that the safety and well-being of residents should be a higher priority than environmental factors that can be mitigated The protest is expected to draw attention to the community’s concerns and to push for reconsideration of the proposed plans “HS2 have explicitly not included communicating with any residents within their ‘hard workload’.  We can now infer that since it takes less than 3 minutes to drive down Dobbins Lane that HS2 may increase their HGV movements up to 20 lorries/hour!  There is no such thing as ‘safe access’ – but this is not just about Dobbins Lane – the HGVs will need to drive to reach the High Street end of Dobbins Lane and they will need to navigate the tortuous route along the always-congested South Street – which has the academy St Mary’s Church users and nursery schools along its edges and then get across an awkward staggered junction at the mini roundabout which is forever witnessing ‘near misses’ HS2 are silent on the 2 or 3 vastly safer options which do not imperil the safety of pedestrians using these roads throughout the day They need to be challenged openly on providing evidence that they have explored the alternatives because they are avoiding this issue.  Bin lorries crawl along stopping and starting and are a piece of everyday society functioning They are surrounded by operatives walking alongside There are relatively few HGVs in Dobbins Lane and HS2 are trying to give the impression their activity is at best marginal to the status quo We need to get to the truth concerning any past communications between HS2 and Bucks Council on this matter because both parties’ integrity is being questioned by residents who feel that someone has sold their safety down the river.  Here HS2 are invited to park one of their intended HGVs outside the tennis club at their consultation event on the afternoon of 19th February so that they can attempt to reassure residents and pedestrians that size doesn’t matter A statement from Wendover Parish Council said: We are aware of HS2's intentions to use Dobbins Lane as a route for HGV’s to access the land to the rear of Lionel Avenue for the purpose of building a spring chamber to help balance water flows in the area Working with the Wendover HS2 Mitigation Group we have raised our concerns with Buckinghamshire Council and our local MP This has led to correspondence from the MP and a significant number of complaints that have been shared with us.  we have no responsibility for determining if Dobbins Lane can be used by HGV traffic WPC wishes to make it clear that we remain steadfastly opposed to any HS2 Heavy Goods Vehicles entering Wendover for multiple reasons there are major safety concerns and will continue to work with all parties to try and find alternative solutions to this situation.  We continue to work with the Wendover HS2 Mitigation Group to try and minimise the impact of HS2 on all residents with Multiple Myeloma in 2017 at the age of 53 Debbie’s journey has been nothing short of challenging After a minor fall at work led to severe spinal injuries—including 8 compression fractures and 2 broken ribs—Debbie learned of her cancer diagnosis Despite the debilitating effects of the disease compounded by treatment-related immunosuppression forced Debbie to give up her career as a pharmacist she has regained the ability to walk significant distances though standing for extended periods remains a struggle Debbie underwent two stem cell transplants—one using her own cells and the second from her brother She continues to take daily oral chemotherapy along with multiple antibiotics which are common due to her compromised immune system Debbie’s prognosis remains challenging due to the aggressive genetics of her condition Earlier fundraising efforts saw Debbie walk the Ridgeway National Trail in 2022 she is setting her sights on an even more ambitious goal: a 185.2-mile walk along the Thames Path National Trail which stretches from Woolwich in London to the source of the Thames in the Cotswolds The walk will take place in 15 stages over the course of the next 18 months with each leg ranging between 10.5 and 14.5 miles Debbie hopes to raise £10,000 to support Myeloma UK in their fight against this rare cancer Debbie has set up a JustGiving page for donations and is reaching out to local media outlets to share her story and inspire others to contribute to the cause To donate, visit her JustGiving page: Debbie's JustGiving Page Debbie’s determination to continue walking and fundraising despite the challenges posed by her condition serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of supporting research into rare cancers like Multiple Myeloma Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsbeds bucks hertsnewsEaster sales to provide crucial boost for Wendover chocolatier amid pressuresIt's the final event of the chocolate season at Rumsey's which also means the last big opportunity to boost sales A Wendover chocolatier is gearing up for one of the busiest time of year - as sales are expected to peak this weekend Easter remains one of the most critical periods of the year for small chocolate businesses owner of Rumsey’s Handmade Chocolates in Wendover it's where a bulk of our annual chocolate sales come from." The seasonal demand for chocolate begins to build in the autumn and continues through to spring After Christmas comes Valentine's Day followed by Mother's Day and finally Easter marking the end of a so-called 'chocolate season' which means this weekend's sales are crucial for a business' cash reserves Ms Rumsey said: "Easter’s really kind of our second biggest just slightly smaller sales expectations from Christmas but it's the last one of the season so it really sets us up for how the rest of the year is going to go "A successful Easter is really important because as we go into the summer months where we don't have so many chocolate sales it's really those kind of cash reserves that we we've made at these times of year that we rely on." which has been trading for 21 years in Wendover and also operates a second shop in Thame is part of a small but resilient independent chocolate sector While unable to compete with supermarkets in volume or pricing the business relies on a loyal customer base "People are more appreciative of handmade that you get what you pay for," Ms Rumsey said This weekend's sales are particularly important as small businesses face swallow the cost of national insurance hikes soaring prices of cocoa and minimum wage increases Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) The Wendover Dean HS2 viaduct weighs 3,700 tonnes and took just over eight months to complete The process consists of assembling the viaduct from its three parts ultimately putting 450m of work into place pads made from teflon were used between the deck and temporary steel bearings to minimise the friction allowing the viaduct to be slid as easily as possible and over the eight months as sections were added The Wendover Dean viaduct is just one of around 50 as part of the HS2 plan It is also the first railway bridge in the UK to use a ‘double-composite’ structure reducing the carbon output by reducing the amount of steel and concrete with two steel beams between two layers of concrete creating a stronger and more cost and carbon efficient design said: “The final launch for Wendover Dean viaduct marks two years of teamwork from EKFB and our supply chain partners Eiffage Metal we will see the viaduct lowered onto its permanent bearings in preparation for its concrete deck.” The HS2 project will see over 500 new bridges, including the longest bridge in the UK at Colne Valley Building & Construction Today website is the place to come for compelling and informative features news and products for a diverse audience serving a wide construction sector The council is now accepting applications for its Major Grant program aimed at supporting local groups and societies in their efforts to enhance the local community How to Apply: Complete the application form and submit it to Wendover Parish Council The aim of the grant funding scheme is to provide financial support to local groups in respect of specified projects which benefit Wendover residents and add value to current activities available to the local community ​The Council has two categories of grants: Minor Grants – applications up to £1000 applications can be made throughout the year Major Grants – Applications over £1000 to a maximum of £5000.  All applications are reviewed by the Finance Committee in February Applicants are then notified and the grants are awarded in April Wendover Parish Council cannot consider applications from profit making organisations projects or fund-raising activities or political parties Further information in terms of eligibility grant amounts and timelines can be found in the Wendover Parish Council Grants Policy below ​Don’t miss this chance to secure funding for your project and make a meaningful difference in our local area Helping to build a vibrant and thriving community For more information and to download the application form, visit the council's website at Wendover Parish Council Grants High Speed 2 (HS2) main works contractor Eiffage Kier Ferrovial Bam JV (EFKB) has successfully installed the 3,700t deck of the Wendover Dean Viaduct in Buckinghamshire after an eight-month slide operation It reached its full length and placement from north abutment and over over nine piers on Saturday 10 August The eight-month process meant the weight of the deck increased with each push starting at 590t and reaching 3,700t by the end Teflon pads were placed between the deck and the temporary steel bearings on top of the concrete piers in order to minimise friction The engineers opted to push the deck slightly uphill in order to maintain control of the deck with the finish point roughly 1.8m above the start The steel is now in position but must be lowered 600mm onto the permanent bearings on the piers HS2 Ltd says the process will be “challenging” and take two months as the steelwork above each pier will be lowered 200mm at a time until the whole deck rests in its final position engineers will begin working on the concrete that will support the railway on the bridge They will utilise specially designed travelling formwork This is expected to take around a year and will be followed by the installation of parapets alogn the edge of the viaduct Cowi JV) have opted for a double composite approach to the beams on the Wendover Dean viaduct This features two long ‘I’ beams of weathering steel sandwiched between two slabs of concrete with a hollow inner This is significantly less carbon intensive than a more traditional design A similar approach is being used by EKFB at four other HS2 viaducts in its section: Small Dean The manufacture and installation of the beams at all these viaducts is being led by specialist Eiffage Metal HS2 Ltd head of delivery Nicola Henderson-Reid said: “The last eight months have been incredible EKFB senior project engineer James Collings said: “The final launch for Wendover Dean viaduct marks two years of teamwork from EKFB and our supply chain partners Eiffage Metal Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Network Rail is gearing up to complete 359 projects worth £67.4M over… The A46 Kenilworth Bypass was reopened to traffic 30 hours earlier than… High Speed 2 (HS2) Ltd and the Department for Transport (DfT) remain… High Speed 2 (HS2) Ltd has said its work faces delays and… HS2 today revealed new timelapse footage showing the latest stage of a complex year-long project to slide almost half a kilometre of bridge deck into position high above Buckinghamshire's Misbourne Valley engineers working for the high-speed rail project carefully slid the 3,130-tonne structure 270 metres using Teflon pads to reduce friction – a material usually found to the surface of a non-stick frying pan The deck of the Wendover Dean Viaduct – which will eventually stretch for 450m – is being assembled in three stages with each one pushed out from the north abutment before the next section is attached behind it This painstaking process means that the weight of the deck will increase with each push up from an initial 590 tonnes at the start of work in January - to 3,700 tonnes by the end of the year the deck – which will eventually weigh the same as 264 double-decker buses - is being pushed slightly uphill with the finish point approximately 1.8m higher than start point HS2 Ltd Senior Project Manager Ben Sebastian-Green said: “It’s great to see so much progress at Wendover Dean Viaduct over the last few days – with all the piers and the first three slides now done The narrow site has always made it a challenging place to build but I’m really impressed by how everyone’s pulled together to get us where we are today the viaduct will form a crucial part of the HS2 project - carrying fast trains between London and Birmingham and freeing up space on the existing mainline for more local and freight services.” the hollow ‘double composite’ structure uses two steel beams sandwiched between two layers of reinforced concrete to create a more efficient super strong span.  A similar approach will also be used for HS2's Small Dean “It’s great to see the next phase of the installation of the steel work The team have worked together to achieve the delivery and welding of the structure and installation of the precast concrete planks as well as completion of the nine piers Setec and COWI) and architects Moxon on the ‘double composite’ approach which was inspired by structures on the French and other European high-speed networks The approach is set to cut the carbon footprint of the structure by around half and help HS2 achieve its goal of halving the amount of embedded carbon in construction The beams are made of ‘weathering steel’ which naturally fades to a dark brown colour over time and will help match the natural tone of the surrounding countryside Weathering steel gets its characteristic colour from a surface layer of corrosion which protects the steel and removes the need for regular painting The Wendover Dean Viaduct will be supported by nine evenly spaced piers some of which are up to 14 metres high and all of which are now complete These were formed from a series of hollow pre-cast concrete shells – manufactured in Northern Ireland - which were placed on top of each other and filled with concrete and steel reinforcing This approach was chosen to enable a crisp cut the amount of work on site and reduce disruption for local residents with the first sections of the approach viaducts for Birmingham Curzon Street station completed and the first beams installed at the Delta Junction in North Warwickshire HS2 is building more than 500 bridging structures – ranging from small road bridges to massive viaducts like record-breaking Colne Valley Viaduct which will become the longest in the UK Utah (KUTV) — Several people were injured in multiple crashes near Wendover after a snowstorm caused whiteout conditions and icy roads the Wendover Fire Department responded to three separate crashes involving six vehicles on I-80 near mile marker 32 Several people were injured and treated at the scene by medical personnel and one person was transported to a Salt Lake City hospital for further treatment MORE on WEATHER CONDITIONS: Helicopter rescue mission saves stranded Utah skiers from 3rd-highest mountain in Oregon The fire department reminds everyone to always wear seatbelts. Utah Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. WENDOVER, Utah — The saying goes that a picture is worth a thousand words, but thousands of those pictures may be taken away. Now, the Historic Wendover Airfield in western Utah hopes to keep that history alive. The airfield's museum covers the expansive history of what the Army Air Force accomplished during World War II. It’s filled with stories from the 509th Composite Group, the Women Air Force Service Pilots and much more. One focus is the Enola Gay, the iconic aircraft that flew over Japan and dropped the world's first atomic bomb. The aircraft's crew trained at Wendover Air Base before their historic mission. “Paul Tibbets, who was the commander of the 509th Composite Group selected to fly that first mission to Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. As they were preparing for that mission, he said, 'I want this named after my mother, Enola Gay.' The rest was history,” explained museum curator Landon Wilkey. The museum’s storied past may have an impact on its future. “People’s culture, heritage, their gender. To wipe that is essentially erasing that history,” Wilkey said. According to The Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Defense has flagged 26,000 images, including those of the Enola Gay, for removal across every military branch to purge DEI content. “They say, ‘We don’t need that, we need to be a cohesive unit.' Ignoring those parts of the story, but those are those individuals’ lived experiences,” explained Wilkey. The museum curator says Wendover's stories are deeper than what can be found in a quick search. “We acknowledge that the only reason the Enola Gay was probably flagged in this large purge of this potential removal is because it features the word 'gay,' he said. But the fact that this even happened is a disservice to our history. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place for this aircraft, but also for these storied individuals, who are potentially having their accomplishments wiped because of who they are.” Through the halls of the museum's aircraft to the echoing walls of its box hangar, Wilkey promises that the location will continue to share stories of those who stepped foot on their base. “Considering that there is still so much more history for us to uncover about our base and just for us to uncover about what our nation was going through at that time, it’s so essential that those resources remain accessible.” President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. WATCHFire destroys Wendover historic Army air base buildingby Kaigan Bigler Utah (KUTV) — A fire destroyed Wendover's historic Army air base building The fire Sunday evening happened in the area of 500 South at the historic air base Officials said the Army air base building was destroyed No other buildings were damaged and no injuries were reported What started the fire is under investigation with the Tooele County Fire Marshal KUTV — The 100-mile Walk to Wendover is the longest suicide prevention walk in the nation During the last week of April every single year a group of over 100 walkers make the trek from Tooele City Hall to Wendover walkers and the general public will celebrate this incredible accomplishment at an after party at the Peppermill Concert Hall This walk is put on by the Life’s Worth Living Foundation For more information visit lifesworthlivingfoundation.webflow.io Watch Fresh Living every weekday at 1 pm MST on CBS Channel 2 or on YouTube CRIME 7:30 PM | Updated: 7:31 pm A two-vehicle accident in Wendover Thursday morning resulted in one of the vehicles rolling over on its side BY ALTON BARNHART WENDOVER — A two-vehicle accident in Wendover Thursday morning resulted in one of the vehicles rolling over on its side In a press release from the Wendover City Police Department the accident happened at the intersection of Aria Blvd Police said the accident caused a vehicle to roll on its side The press release stated that both the Wendover FD and the West Wendover FD assisted with the occupants in the rolled vehicle The Wendover City PD said the occupants only received minor injuries LOCAL NEWS 5:09 PM | Updated: 7:37 pm BY ALEX CABRERO Nevada — Even in places that honor the past it is important to celebrate the current season That is why you’ll see Christmas trees, lights, and other decorations at the Historic Wendover Airfield just past the Utah-Nevada border “I can’t think of anybody who walked away with a negative experience,” said James Petersen who is the President of the Historic Wendover Airfield Foundation is seeing people still coming here to learn about its history The crew that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan helping the United States to win World War II trained in Wendover in many of the buildings still on site “Wendover is the most original remaining army air force base in the entire country,” said Petersen There is nothing like it in the country.” it caught fire and it burned pretty quickly,” said Petersen firefighters were called to the 900 block of 500 South in Wendover The old morgue building was burning and it was already too late to save it these old World War II buildings are just old dry wood and they go up pretty fast,” said Petersen is the power plant for the hospital and we were able to save that building.” The old morgue building was being used for storage, and although fire investigators are still figuring out an official cause it is another piece of history lost forever “Wendover had over a hundred fatalities in training crashes so it would have been used fairly extensively but he is happy to continue to do what he can to preserve the base A new exhibit shows how pilots trained using only instruments back then “The link trainer was the first real pilot simulator It was developed in the ’30s,” he said is a part of the history at Wendover Petersen hopes people see because you never know when something might be gone “People need to see what it was like back then here and the contribution Utah made to winning World War II This is the one place where people can really come and see these original buildings.” Follow @KSL_AlexCabrero