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The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too ~~~~ The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too ~~~~ The page for enthusiasts in the Oxford Chilterns Area - News from you and news for you - pictures too

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M40 Junction 4 - £20 million "park-and-ride" scheme on the cards

HIGH WYCOMBE may be set to receive a £20 million “park-and-ride” scheme in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.

If the plans go ahead land will be set aside at Handy Cross so that motorists can park their cars and catch long distance buses around the country.

Commuters will also be able to use the scheme to travel into central High Wycombe.

The scheme was originally earmarked for completion in 2016, but Bucks County Council has been in talks to boost the scheme along so it can be ready for the London Olympics.

The scheme will be particularly useful for sports fans wishing to travel by bus to Dorney Lake near Windsor - home of the rowing events at the 2012 Olympics.

Cllr Val Letheren, cabinet member for transportation, said: “It would mean that people would be able to get to the Olympics from Wycombe by bus.

“It would mean a big bonus for the economy and transport of Wycombe forever.”

The project may be funded by the Government's Department for Transport, provided local councils can come up with ten per cent of the £20 million price tag.

However, Cllr Letheren been in discussions with the South East England Regional Assembly, or SEERA, a group that draws up an overall transport plan for the south east.

This deal could result in the £2million fee being waived in return for a donation of land at the Wycombe Sports Centre for use in the scheme.

SEERA and Bucks County Council will now discuss the plans with the Department for Transport to try and secure funding.

The Wycombe Sports Centre is owned by Wycombe District Council.

Cllr Letheren said that the county council has been meeting with the district council to discuss the possibility of using sports centre land in the scheme.

No decision has yet been reached. However, a district council document released in November 2008 outlining plans for the future of the Handy Cross site states that, “The site is ideal for a local and regional transportation interchange, including a Park and Ride”.

District council spokesman Catherine Spalton confirmed that the council was in favour of a “park-and-ride” scheme at Handy Cross.

It will indeed be most interesting to see what develops. At present the only express coach service to route through Wycombe is the National Express 737 service from Oxford to Luton & Stansted. Last year another service, the NEx 370 from Southall to Birmingham was withdrawn at the end of the summer timetable due to a lack of support. It is a long time now since the town had a link to London for example, that also failing due to a lack of support some years ago.

TVAC Item 5 January. - TVAC of Leyland from Pete Maguire - TVAC based in Leyland have been making low-floor community buses in recent years. As they have now gone into liquidation I was wondering if you knew of anybody/company who operates them in service as I would like to see one and get some pictures.

Buckinghamshire County Council (Swanrider Transport Services) operate 4 TVAC 3 axle low floor minibuses out of their depot based at Corrib Industrial Estate, Griffin Lane, Aylesbury. See the Swanrider Website below at Buckinghamshire County Council.

Stagecoach in Oxfordshire is set to launch a new and improved series of services for rural links in the county.

However I am pleased to be able to provide a taster as to what the branding will look like as it is now being applied to the fleet of deckers used on the S series routes. Many thanks to Gavin Francis for these excellent pictures.

S1 and S2 branding adorns Witney based Tridents with many buses already complete with their new image.

The WiFi fitted Scanias in use on the "Chippy" services are also gaining their new image.

This is enhanced with an exciting and bright new image for the interiors, especially interesting where no rear lower deck window is provided.

Finally for this issue we have the branding being applied to Bicester route buses. I like the big silver S.

Destination screen updates are being preapred but will not be uploaded until next weekend when the final and complete package will appear.

More details and pictures will appear in our next issue with details for the interior and exterior livery variations. I also look forward to readers contributions.

Epsom Coaches were much involved in rail replacement at Stansted a week ago and some of their Setra tri-axles were in use.

An Arriva DAF SB120 with Wrights bodywork from Enfield depot is seen passing through Potters Bar on the 313.

Dews Coaches were also much in evidence at Stansted a week ago, again on rail replacement services.

A new Souls mega dekker on a private hire in Milton Keynes last week. Picture by Richard Sharman,

I think this Arriva sightseeing decker in London has been reregistered. Picture by Gavin Francis.