0 . ▁However , ▁despite ▁the ▁opposition , ▁the ▁H S 2 ▁bill ▁was ▁passed ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁and ▁construction ▁contract s ▁let ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 7 . ▁ ▁Geography ▁ ▁Wend over ▁lies ▁at ▁approximately ▁ ▁above ▁sea ▁level . ▁It ▁occup ies ▁a ▁prime ▁position ▁at ▁the ▁northern ▁end ▁of ▁a ▁natural ▁crossing ▁point ▁through ▁the ▁Ch il tern ▁Hills , ▁which ▁wrap ▁around ▁the ▁west , ▁south ▁and ▁east ▁of ▁the ▁town . ▁To ▁the ▁north ▁the ▁land ▁s lop es ▁g ently ▁down wards ▁towards ▁the ▁flat , ▁agricult ural ▁land ▁of ▁the ▁A yles bury ▁V ale . ▁To ▁the ▁west ▁the ▁town ▁is ▁over look ed ▁by ▁Co om be ▁Hill ▁() ▁and ▁to ▁the ▁east ▁by ▁Wend over ▁Wood s ▁( ). ▁ ▁The ▁gap ▁through ▁the ▁Ch il tern s ▁that ▁Wend over ▁s its ▁ast ride ▁has ▁long ▁been ▁an ▁important ▁communic ations ▁route . ▁It ▁is ▁used ▁by ▁the ▁A 4 1 3 ▁road ▁between ▁London ▁and ▁A yl s bury , ▁the ▁London ▁to ▁A yles bury ▁railway ▁line , ▁and ▁the ▁new ▁high ▁speed ▁rail ▁link ▁between ▁London ▁and ▁the ▁North ▁that ▁is ▁now ▁under ▁construction . ▁At ▁Wend over ▁this ▁route ▁is ▁crossed ▁by ▁the ▁route ▁of ▁the ▁ancient ▁I ck n ield ▁Way , ▁running ▁along ▁the ▁line ▁of ▁the ▁Ch il tern s , ▁that ▁has ▁connected ▁W ilt shire ▁to ▁Nor folk ▁since ▁pre histor ic ▁times . ▁ ▁Besides ▁the