Through the Chesham Society, ChAP contributed towards a Tourism South East survey of tourism-related economic activity in the part of the Chilterns AONB affected by HS2 construction. This identified losses of the order of £400 million which could be offset against additional expenditure on extending a bored tunnel under the AONB.
As a result, the select committee instructed HS2 Ltd to plan an extension of the bored tunnel from Mantles Wood to just beyond South Heath. This is a considerable benefit to Chesham, since it passes under the B485 (Missenden Road), which would have been disrupted by construction of the South Heath cut and cover tunnel under the previous proposal. The communities of Hyde Heath, Hyde Lane and parts of South Heath now escape the worst effects of construction, and most of the ancient woodland in the AONB (Mantles & Farthings Wood, Sibleys Coppice) previously threatened, is now saved.
Project Date: 2016