This proposal is for the reduction of the existing 40mph speed limit along the A4128 Wycombe Road, Prestwood between Lodge Lane and Peterley Lane to 30 mph.
This has been approved but PVA understands that it will not be implemented until February 2027. The scheme is fully funded by Great Missenden Parish Council. There are no financial implications for Buckinghamshire Council. The total cost of the project (including consultation and implementation of the terminal and repeater signs) is anticipated to be up to £30,000.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNCIL REPORT
The Leader grants approval for the implementation and introduction of the Permanent Traffic Regulation Order as advertised. This Order includes the reduction of speed limit from 40mph to 30mph on A4128 Wycombe Road (between Lodge Lane and Peterley Lane), Prestwood. A speed reduction on the A4128 Wycombe Road as well as Peterley lane in Prestwood has been proposed as there is a historic commitment now funded by Great Missenden Parish Council. This is a heavily used route, which serves both local and commuter traffic. This 40mph speed limit has an impact on Holy Trinity Church as it presents issues to parishioners attending and leaving church and for the numerous groups who use their facilities. It also has an impact on staff and customers of local businesses, including Hildreth’s garden Centre, Peterley Manor Farm and Barn Kitchen, and Flower Pots Day Nursery as well as Perks Lane residents.
Great Missenden Parish Council had raised concerns related to road safety along the A4128 Wycombe Road, currently subject to a speed limit of 40mph. A survey was carried out among residents in 2024. There were just over 1,100 responses to the survey, with 80% of those in favour of the speed reduction (minutes from May 2024: APC-Minutes-May-2024-WS.pdf) and the details of the survey and the map of the proposed stretch can be seen here: greatmissendenpc.co.uk/wycomberoad/.
If it goes down to thirty, standby for development, thats why BCC offered it.
Subject: Concern over the £30,000 cost of changing 8 speed signs on the A4128 Wycombe Road, Prestwood
Dear Great Missenden Parish Councillors and Clerk,
I am writing as a regular driver on the A4128 Wycombe Road in Prestwood to express my strong dismay at the £30,000 cost approved for reducing the speed limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on the short section between Lodge Lane and the Peterley Lane / Perks Lane junction.
According to the official Buckinghamshire Council report from February 2026, there were only two recorded collisions in the most recent five-year period (May 2020 – April 2025). Neither incident was related to the existing 40 mph speed limit:
One involved a goods vehicle reversing onto the main road.
The other occurred at temporary traffic lights.
This section has been signed at 40 mph for well over 40 years with no evident pattern of speed-related accidents. Changing approximately 8 small repeater signs (plus the terminal signs) at a cost of £30,000 – funded entirely by the Parish Council – appears disproportionate and poor value for money, especially when the change will not even take effect until February 2027.
There are many more important things that need doing to address road safety in Great Missenden and Prestwood than changing these signs at such a ridiculous cost. A quick look at FixMyStreet reveals numerous ongoing reports of potholes, damaged pavements, flooding, and other highway defects across the parish, including on and around the A4128. Many of these basic maintenance issues remain unresolved for months and pose a far more immediate risk to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians than the current speed limit.
I believe parish funds would be far better spent on repairing potholes, improving road surfaces, clearing drains, and fixing pavements rather than on this low-priority sign change.
I respectfully urge the Parish Council to reconsider proceeding with the scheme and to provide a detailed breakdown of the £30,000 costs. I would also welcome any additional evidence showing why this expenditure is justified given the minimal collision history and the many other pressing road safety needs in the area.
Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your response
I totally concur.
£30,000 cost cannot be justified for these extra road signs, especially as it’s not likely to be enforced at 30mph. I live just off Lodge Lane and the 30mph limit there is constantly broken and that’s been in place for years. There is also regular racing that occurs, especially on weekend evenings, along Wycombe Road, well in excess of existing 40mph limit, on the very stretch of road that is subject to new limits.
Meantime GM Parish has increased their portion of Council Tax by 6.6% on last year and this is what we get for our money.
Let’s try and do something meaningful and positive with £30,000. What a waste!
I 100% agree with above comments. this spend cannot be justified when there are more pressing needs.
agree wholeheartedly. unnecessary spend especially when the roads are in such need of repair