Harry Potter filming 'cuts off' villagers

People living in a village said they had been "cut off" after roads were closed while a production company involved in the new Harry Potter series filmed there.

Residents of Latimer, Buckinghamshire, were notified in September that Plum Jam Productions, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery, would be filming a major HBO series in the village later that month.

Restrictions were put in place for 28-30 September, including the closure of all routes into the village centre on Tuesday.

Buckinghamshire Council said residents had been "engaged" with, while Warner Bros. did not respond to a request for comment.

Lots of scenes for the second series of the HBO Harry Potter reboot were being filmed at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in neighbouring Hertfordshire. Like the original JK Rowling books, the television series is set in the 1990s.

Letters sent to villagers from the production company said they were working on a project codenamed "Apollo" and would use the Monday to "dress the set" and position period vehicles.

Residents living near the village green had been directed to park on a field elsewhere, while some have been paid for use of their driveways.

People living in Latimer have been given permits, allowing them timed access through the village at 08:00 and 17:00 on Monday and Wednesday.

However, only emergency vehicles will be allowed through between 07:00 and 19:00 on Tuesday.

With the main routes into Latimer sealed off, traffic was diverted along Blackwell Hall Lane, a narrow, unlit single-track country road with no space for passing.

Residents told the BBC that the other alternative route required an 11-mile detour adding at least 20 minutes to some journeys.

Teacher Candice Adams, who lives on the Parkfield Latimer estate, just outside the centre of the village, said the filming had made it difficult for her to get to work because her usual route passed through Latimer.

A letter sent to residents of the estate on 11 September by the production company said they were "conscious that filming in the area may bring some additional traffic and congestion" but it was aiming to make the period "as manageable as possible".

She said the suggested alternatives were narrow country roads and she waited for the village to reopen temporarily before travelling home on Monday.

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Adams said people on the estate felt ignored by the authorities and the production company.

"They had no concern for how we were going to get in and out. They were only worried about their production over those three days," she said.

"We are taxpaying residents and our access has been cut off... I do feel like we've all been left in the lurch.

"The people who live in the bottom of the village have all been paid out, so they're OK and they can park and they can come and go, but we're completely landlocked if those lanes are blocked."

Julia Jenkin, who has lived on the estate since the 1980s, said she had used Blackwell Hall Lane only once because it was so difficult to navigate.

She said she did not plan to leave her home during the three days of filming.

'I'm not saying I can't go out, but I don't think anyone who wants to go out will go down that lane. I've done it once in my life and I will never do it again," she said.

"It's gridlock basically... I don't think anybody will be going anywhere tomorrow at 8:00.

"I think [the film crew] tried their best to be helpful, but I still think it's caused a huge amount of stress."

Adams added: "I have been living in the estate for two years. I have never driven down Blackwell Hall Lane ever.

"I've only done it recently to see how bad it is, and I got stuck for 15 minutes behind two vans trying to pass each other."

Another woman, who lives and works in Latimer, but asked not to be named, said Tuesday's closure meant she would have to take a lengthy detour for what would normally be a short drive.

She said: "We're going to have to go through Chesham tomorrow because it's completely closed.

"Probably added about 20 minutes to my journey which isn't great."

However, she said the production crew had been "as accommodating as possible" by allowing residents through the village during two timed periods on Monday and Wednesday.

Thomas Broom, Buckinghamshire Council's deputy member and cabinet member for transport, said: "Buckinghamshire has a strong track record of attracting film and TV productions, which bring economic benefits to local communities.

"Buckinghamshire Council approved a temporary road closure for filming activity in Latimer following its usual notification, consultation and assessment processes.

"The production company engaged with residents and local stakeholders throughout the planning process, and feedback helped shape measures to minimise disruption where reasonably practicable."

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