TRAFFIC chaos may ensue under the current proposals for a railway extension, which demands the closure of a major road.

Hollow Hill Lane, that runs under Chequers Bridge, Langley, was closed by Slough Borough Council in 2016 as part of a traffic experiment - leading to serious congestion throughout the borough. The experiment was to investigate the impact of a proposed Heathrow Express rail depot, plans for which have now been scrapped.

But now a new threat has emerged, as Network Rail’s updated plans for the rail link to Heathrow demand that the road be closed permanently once the project is in place.

Network Rail, who released the news as part of the latest update to their ongoing public consultation, said: “The proposed design means the section of Hollow Hill Lane that runs under Chequers Bridge, near Langley station, would need to close permanently.

“We are working with the local highways authorities to minimise the impact of this permanent closure on the surrounding road network.”

The news has raised serious concerns amongst residents. Chairwoman of the Langley Neighbourhood Forum, Eleanor Cryer, said: “In my opinion, because I really understand the problems that happened when the bridge last closed, I have come to the conclusions that the people making these decisions do not live locally, and do not understand the problems the closed bridge would cause. I assume they just sit at their computers and work something out, without any understanding of the reality of the situation.”

The project will take roughly five years to complete, including a 15-month period of 24-hour tunnelling operations.

MP for Slough, Tan Dhesi, is co-chair of the Western Rail Link to Heathrow Stakeholder Steering Group. He said: “While I am in favour of the proposed Western Rail Link to Heathrow in principle, recognising the overall benefits to Slough, the economy and our environment, I am aware of the genuine concerns of some Langley residents.

“I have requested the Government and Network Rail to listen and take into consideration their anxieties to hopefully alleviate them, learning the lessons from the past when Hollow Hill Lane was temporarily closed.”