A413 pony and trap races in Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross: What you need to know

Pony and trap races are planned in Chalfont St Peter and Gerrards Cross this weekend, Thames Valley Police has said.

The force has issued a Section 34 dispersal order for the ‘unauthorised’ event, which will be in effect from 3am on February 8 (Saturday) until 3am on February 10 (Monday).

The order will give officers extra powers to deal with anti-social behaviour and crime in a small area.

The area roughly extends clockwise from Market Place southwards along the A413 Amersham Road to where it joins the A40 Oxford Road and then west to the junction of Packhorse Road, northeast through Gerrards Cross town centre and then north west along Austenwood Lane back to Market Place.

However, the force said it had not issued any advice to close businesses and encouraged people ‘to continue their usual activities as normal’.

However, the force said it had not issued any advice to close businesses and encouraged people ‘to continue their usual activities as normal’.

A police spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Friday the force was working with organisers and its partners to manage the events.

They said: “Thames Valley Police is aware of the pony and trap event expected to take place around the Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter area this weekend.

“Thames Valley Police has an extensive policing operation in place and will have a proportionate presence at the event to implement preventative measures and ensure public safety.

“While pony and trap riding itself is not illegal, we will be focusing on maintaining road safety and minimising disruption to residents, businesses, and road users. Officers will take appropriate action where necessary if criminal offences are identified.”

Thames Valley Police was asked to provide more detail about exactly when and where the events are due to take place but has not responded this information at the time of publication.

Buckinghamshire Council said on Friday a road closure was not currently in place, but this could change depending on what happens.
Gerrards Cross Town Council said it had received intelligence from local councils and Thames Valley about an event planned.

A spokesperson told the LDRS: “We are in regular communication with TVP, who have asked us not to make any comment publicly due to fears it would compromise any ongoing police operation.

“If this event does take place as intelligence suggests it will be an organised criminal enterprise, this was the basis for advising people to secure their spaces. If any residents have concerns they must contact the police on 101 or 999 if emergency.”

The spokesperson referenced previous Facebook posts by the town council and Chalfont St Peter Parish Council, which said a ‘large group of travellers’ were coming to the area for horse races and told residents to ‘secure their spaces’.

The remarks, which have since been deleted, were condemned as ‘blatant discrimination’ by the Gypsy Traveller League Organisation.

The London-based charity accused the two councils of ‘fearmongering against the traveller community’ and said it had reported the comments as a hate crime.

The group added: “This kind of discrimination would never be tolerated if it were directed at any other ethnicity.”

Chalfont St Peter Parish Council previously said it ‘apologised for any distress or upset’ its post may have caused.

Last weekend, Thames Valley Police said it received ‘numerous reports’ of pony and trap racing on the A413 in Chalfont St Peter and officers from its neighbourhood and roads teams attended.