Freddie van Mierlo MP Urges Government to Back Delivery of Thame to Haddenham Greenway

Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame, has called on the government to support the delivery of the long-awaited Thame to Haddenham Greenway by strengthening local councils’ powers to acquire land for active travel projects.

Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on road safety and active travel, Freddie highlighted the Greenway as a transformative project that enjoys strong community support and recent funding, however it continues to face barriers due to land ownership issues.

The proposed route would create a safe, accessible walking and cycling link between Thame and Haddenham, just three miles apart, providing an alternative to the busy and dangerous A418. In early 2025, Oxfordshire County Council allocated £200,000 to progress the scheme, but its delivery remains dependent on securing access to key pieces of land.

He contrasted the challenges faced by cycling and walking schemes with the approach used for road projects, where Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) are routinely deployed to acquire land, often with little resistance once the legal power is made clear.

He urged the Minister to consider issuing strengthened guidance to support councils in using CPOs for walking and cycling projects, which would help unlock not only the Thame to Haddenham Greenway, but also similar ambitions in Watlington, Chinnor and Sonning Common.

Freddie van Mierlo also encouraged the Department for Transport to look at how the Welsh Government has approached the issue, referencing a 2019 report by the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee in the Senedd.

In addition to raising the issue in Parliament, Freddie has also organised a key meeting with local stakeholders, set to take place in Thame next month. The meeting will bring together representatives from Oxfordshire County Council, Buckinghamshire Council and other partners to help drive the project forward.

Commenting on this, Freddie van Mierlo said:

“This is a three mile stretch that could transform local travel, offering a safer and greener alternative to the A418. It should not be harder to build a cycle and walking path than a bypass and with the right cooperation between national and local government, we can deliver safer and more connected communities, and make active travel a real alternative.”