Drivers decry ongoing 'dangerous' Taplow station approach

Fresh concerns have been raised about the ‘dangerous’ stretch of outside Taplow railway station.

Last month, drivers voiced complaints via social media that the Approach Road near the station had become a ‘one-way system’ because of all the cars parked there.

A Taplow parish councillor remarked that the pressure on the station has become ‘really bad’ in the past 18 months.

Since then, yet more drivers have encountered problems and have called on Buckinghamshire Council to act quickly to prevent an accident.

The road can be very dark and icy conditions make it particularly hazardous, noted one frustrated driver from Belmont.

Rosalind Bieber said she was left ‘shaking’ after a dicey incident on the stretch.

At the beginning of December, she encountered another driver head on, who would not back up and had to ‘reverse the whole length’ of the stretch in icy conditions.

The parked cars extend quite far, she said, making the long reverse even more dangerous.

Rosalind took to social media platform Nextdoor to decry the situation on the stretch following her ‘awful experience’.

Fellow drivers chimed in to echo these concerns. More than 90 people commented, many with hard words to say about the road.

Several said they have changed their route just to avoid it – and expressed the view that Buckinghamshire Council needs to introduce some parking restrictions.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Rosalind said: “I’ve used road for the last three years going to work in Burnham. I avoid it, now.

“It urgently needs markings down there, or to make it one-way. Something needs to be done – it’s an accident waiting to happen.”

Last month, Taplow parish councillor Roger Worthington attributed the problem to a new housing estate on the south side of Beaconsfield.

Rosalind wonders if the situation might also be exacerbated by the lift closure at Maidenhead railway station.

Those in need of step-free access travelling west must currently travel to Taplow to use a station with a working lift.

“It's all very well telling people to go to Taplow, you’ve got to have the [parking] infrastructure,” said Rosalind.

Steven Broadbent, Bucks council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “The area is under review, which includes monitoring, to be able to assess the best approach that would meet resident and safety needs.

“Any new parking restrictions that may be introduced will be subject to the required statutory process which takes time.

“Therefore, in the meantime, we continue to encourage motorists to park in accordance with the Highway Code and with consideration to residents.”