'I'm about making Wycombe a better place' (From Bucks Free Press)

"Im about making Wycombe a better place"

Wow! thats a lot of chav's to get sorted!!

But did Mr. Collingwood listen to the BFP?

I think Mr Collingwood and the Council has been a breath of fresh air for the Wycombe District.

I think Wycombe has seen some very positive steps forward and more importantly, I think people are being listened to, that their views do matter.

Most politicians who inherit office from a controversial character have a long honeymoon period.

This article does seem to be tempting fate somewhat as the ramifications of the decisions to proceed with both the council homes sale and the megaflopolis at Handy Cross have yet to be seen.

Perhaps Mr Collingswood, can get together with his colleauges @ BCC, and make Wycombe a better place by sorting out the horrendous traffic problems, ie traffic light sequence, making the bottom of Plomer Hill wider again, when BCC made it narrow,

I don't think any of this will happen.

miccles wrote:
Perhaps Mr Collingswood, can get together with his colleauges @ BCC, and make Wycombe a better place by sorting out the horrendous traffic problems, ie traffic light sequence, making the bottom of Plomer Hill wider again, when BCC made it narrow, I don't think any of this will happen.

Quit eagree. I think one of the problems with planning, is that BCC is the Highways authority for the County, were WDC responsible for Highways in the District then we might see some resources being afford to the District and in the District's interest. Ok there might be some duplication of resources but Bucks Highways quite simply isn't working, too much reliance is placed upon contractors and too much corner cutting.

'We're here to serve people, not score political points,' says Alex Collingwood.
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Well stop talking about it and DO SOMETHING.
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After one year the evidence so far doesn't support your statement.

wayneo wrote:

miccles wrote:
Perhaps Mr Collingswood, can get together with his colleauges @ BCC, and make Wycombe a better place by sorting out the horrendous traffic problems, ie traffic light sequence, making the bottom of Plomer Hill wider again, when BCC made it narrow, I don't think any of this will happen.

Quit eagree. I think one of the problems with planning, is that BCC is the Highways authority for the County, were WDC responsible for Highways in the District then we might see some resources being afford to the District and in the District's interest. Ok there might be some duplication of resources but Bucks Highways quite simply isn't working, too much reliance is placed upon contractors and too much corner cutting.

"Bucks Highways quite simply isn't working, too much reliance is placed upon contractors and too much corner cutting."

Exactly i couldn't agree more.

Alex is a good man for the District. However the old guard are doing all that they are able to - to get back into power.
It's time that things changed and the system allowed us to get rid of the rubbish as it should be - rather than the current joke of a voting system that we have (i.e. they know where members of a party live from knocking at your door previously - and come election time - they target just those voters and use the national branding to ensure that their man/woman gets back in) Even if only x2 people voted in a whole ward/town and those two voted for the 'right' party!.
In local politics your vote does actually make a difference if you go out and use it – however for National elections, it doesn’t count for anything – one of (or a mix of) the x3 main parties would always get into power – look how many Independent MP’s that there have been since the 2nd World War (or even since the times of the Whigs and the Tories).
If you live in a Conservative voting town – then guess what.. next election time, a Conservative candidate would represent you – the same for a Labour voting town.
When will things change? When would our votes make a difference?
The political parties in the UK (and in most other Countries) are nothing more than Cartels run by the political Elite – for the benefit not of the people but of Big business, the wealthy 1-2% and also the Unions.

Come on , chaps. Give them a chance. Politicians have only had any real power for about 180 years.
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All these things take time. I am sure they are thinking about doing something - possibly. But which problem to tackle first is a difficult one.
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That's why it takes so long - there's a lot of talking to be done first which can go on for a quite a while. Sometimes it feels like forever.
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Unfortunately Wycombe Town does not have any representation at local level - it is what is called 'unparished' so all the decisions are taken at District level.
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So instead it has a powerless 'Town Council' with comic officials who dress up and announce stupid unpopular ideas. Very democratic - Not !
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This current pointless lot are trying to move Wycombe back to the Dark Ages. Possibly with 'free' public executions or worse in Frogmoor (with big TV screen for those at the back ) to keep the citizens (quote) 'happy'.
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So until we see some public beheadings in Wycombe , you can forget about all the traffic problems being solved - the people in 'power' are not interested.
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But I'm sure it will all be solved by the next energy / financial / population crises etc. Then at least Natural events will overtake any ideas the self-important inept useless politicians have.

Cllr C said “I think the vast majority of councillors are on the same page as that but there are one or two who for whatever reason try to be a bit clever.”

Collingwood and his Cabinet could do with a few cleverer people on the cabinet -- How about some of the opposition councillors who are really in touch and serving the community well?

geoffW wrote:
'We're here to serve people, not score political points,' says Alex Collingwood.
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Well stop talking about it and DO SOMETHING.
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After one year the evidence so far doesn't support your statement.

GeoffW -- I agree totally with you.
Collingwood is stripping our towns assets to fund District pet projects -- Exactly what Clarke did and every Tory administration has done for years !!!

townraider wrote:

geoffW wrote: 'We're here to serve people, not score political points,' says Alex Collingwood. . Well stop talking about it and DO SOMETHING. . After one year the evidence so far doesn't support your statement.

GeoffW -- I agree totally with you. Collingwood is stripping our towns assets to fund District pet projects -- Exactly what Clarke did and every Tory administration has done for years !!!

Can you provide any examples of Mr Collingwood and his team asset stripping the town?

We could do with more a*s*s-stripping on Wycombe District Council.
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Not all donkeys have long ears but they do seem to go on for a long time and bray a lot.

Look at the state of Wycombe today.
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Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
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Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
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Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

I disagree. Resolving problems one by one is necessary when only a few things need putting right as in the case of Wycombe. The MasterPlan seeks to address problems that are non-urgent and, in my opinion, make changes some of which will have a detrimental effect on the town.
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The issue of Frogmoor could have been put right in the last twelve months rather than being allowed to fester away, sadly it has not.
~
Wycombe does not require being taken in a “particular direction”. I do wish those in charge would stop trying to stamp their authority on the town and actually get on with addressing the individual issues that would make our town a nice place to live again. The complex and stadium were other examples of plans to stamp one's authority on Wycombe and look how they ended up, complete and utter failure.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

I disagree. Resolving problems one by one is necessary when only a few things need putting right as in the case of Wycombe. The MasterPlan seeks to address problems that are non-urgent and, in my opinion, make changes some of which will have a detrimental effect on the town.
~
The issue of Frogmoor could have been put right in the last twelve months rather than being allowed to fester away, sadly it has not.
~
Wycombe does not require being taken in a “particular direction”. I do wish those in charge would stop trying to stamp their authority on the town and actually get on with addressing the individual issues that would make our town a nice place to live again. The complex and stadium were other examples of plans to stamp one's authority on Wycombe and look how they ended up, complete and utter failure.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

What do you think needs to be put right? If your want to keep the town as it is then yes you would repair and keep what you have. If you want to remove what many to consider eyesores, then that would/could be undertaken as part of a masterplan. Having a plan and a direction to improve the town allows the Council to guage opinion, consult, then make changes where appropriate.

I don't see that Frogmore has been allowed to fester away, it's still there when I last checked; it's that nothing has been decided about its future, if you look at what is being offered in the masterplan, in my opinion it's more in tune with have it used to look. Besides, it's subject to consultation and I would expect with the Council wanting to listen to residents, that they want to get it right.

The reason the stadium failed was that it was illconceived from the beginning and very few wanted it. The sports centre and Town masterplan is in a completely different league.

As for those in charge trying to 'stamp their authority", I think that in this case, there's a number of ideas that have been put forward, much of it is a long-way off, some can be realistically acheived now some will be much further down the line.

"But certainly me and my team are about making Wycombe a better place"
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I hope that means the whole of Wycombe Mr. Collingwood, because from what I can see Booker and Cressex certainly aren't planned to be a better place. I know I have said it before but please comment on your plans for our area (or should I say your plan to fight BCC re the WTS - the problem wont just go away, I wouldn't be too complacent either, just remember that Booker voted out the Conservatives on the Stadium issue alone, so it can be done in other areas.

BOOKERite wrote:
"But certainly me and my team are about making Wycombe a better place"
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I hope that means the whole of Wycombe Mr. Collingwood, because from what I can see Booker and Cressex certainly aren't planned to be a better place. I know I have said it before but please comment on your plans for our area (or should I say your plan to fight BCC re the WTS - the problem wont just go away, I wouldn't be too complacent either, just remember that Booker voted out the Conservatives on the Stadium issue alone, so it can be done in other areas.

One of the "challenges" of opposing the Waste Transfer Station proposal is that, for Wycombe (and indeed the County), the waste needs to go somewhere. Unfortunately for the residents near to High Heavens, it seems that this may be the best site.
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Whereas the Booker stadium proposal could be challenged on the basis that (a) there wasn't a justification to spend ratepayers money on the dreams of the owner of the football and rugby clubs; (b) there wasn't a need to build another stadium; (c) there wasn't a viable business case (with funding) to support the proposal, and (d) there wasn't any evidence that the proposal would meet the "exceptional needs" test for building on Green Belt, this may not be the case with the WTS. Would therefore be interested to hear what the arguments against siting the WTS at High Heavens are though....and perhaps these could be shared with fellow WDC ratepayers and Councillors?

gpn01 wrote:

BOOKERite wrote:
"But certainly me and my team are about making Wycombe a better place"
.
I hope that means the whole of Wycombe Mr. Collingwood, because from what I can see Booker and Cressex certainly aren't planned to be a better place. I know I have said it before but please comment on your plans for our area (or should I say your plan to fight BCC re the WTS - the problem wont just go away, I wouldn't be too complacent either, just remember that Booker voted out the Conservatives on the Stadium issue alone, so it can be done in other areas.

One of the "challenges" of opposing the Waste Transfer Station proposal is that, for Wycombe (and indeed the County), the waste needs to go somewhere. Unfortunately for the residents near to High Heavens, it seems that this may be the best site.
.
Whereas the Booker stadium proposal could be challenged on the basis that (a) there wasn't a justification to spend ratepayers money on the dreams of the owner of the football and rugby clubs; (b) there wasn't a need to build another stadium; (c) there wasn't a viable business case (with funding) to support the proposal, and (d) there wasn't any evidence that the proposal would meet the "exceptional needs" test for building on Green Belt, this may not be the case with the WTS. Would therefore be interested to hear what the arguments against siting the WTS at High Heavens are though....and perhaps these could be shared with fellow WDC ratepayers and Councillors?

Why can't the waste be transported to Calvert by rail? Now the waste from West London has been reduced there is spare capacity on the railway line.
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All it needs is a transfer station built close to the railway line, say in Loudwater, and there would be no need for the proposed site at Booker.
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I wrote a column about the waste issue explaining my thoughts in greater detail in the printed version of the Bucks Free Press a few weeks ago.
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Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

I don't suppose the people of Calvert are crazy about the idea either.

To put all this in a nutshell, WDC and BCC will do what they want anyway, and stuff the residents, why should they change the habit of a lifetime.

demoness the second wrote:
I don't suppose the people of Calvert are crazy about the idea either.

I shouldn't think that they are but they are fighting it. As should WDC. If you don't live in this area it is not your problem, but it will cause absolute chaos in Booker, Cressex, Handy Cross Roundabout and, therefore, also in Wycombe Town and the whole of the south east side of the WDC area.
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My comment to Alex Collingwood is: please make a statement - don't just ignore the situation.
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I, personally am very pleased that our money is going into the re-building of the new Sports Centre, I am not so happy about our money being spent in tearing down the flyover in the middle of town, it is something that wont affect me personally. But, as I have said before, there are a lot of people who will be affected by the the extra traffic problems caused by the WTS, and I would like it discussed openly by WDC.

BOOKERite wrote:

demoness the second wrote:
I don't suppose the people of Calvert are crazy about the idea either.

I shouldn't think that they are but they are fighting it. As should WDC. If you don't live in this area it is not your problem, but it will cause absolute chaos in Booker, Cressex, Handy Cross Roundabout and, therefore, also in Wycombe Town and the whole of the south east side of the WDC area.
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My comment to Alex Collingwood is: please make a statement - don't just ignore the situation.
.
I, personally am very pleased that our money is going into the re-building of the new Sports Centre, I am not so happy about our money being spent in tearing down the flyover in the middle of town, it is something that wont affect me personally. But, as I have said before, there are a lot of people who will be affected by the the extra traffic problems caused by the WTS, and I would like it discussed openly by WDC.

I completely agree with you!

BOOKERite wrote:

demoness the second wrote:
I don't suppose the people of Calvert are crazy about the idea either.

I shouldn't think that they are but they are fighting it. As should WDC. If you don't live in this area it is not your problem, but it will cause absolute chaos in Booker, Cressex, Handy Cross Roundabout and, therefore, also in Wycombe Town and the whole of the south east side of the WDC area.
.
My comment to Alex Collingwood is: please make a statement - don't just ignore the situation.
.
I, personally am very pleased that our money is going into the re-building of the new Sports Centre, I am not so happy about our money being spent in tearing down the flyover in the middle of town, it is something that wont affect me personally. But, as I have said before, there are a lot of people who will be affected by the the extra traffic problems caused by the WTS, and I would like it discussed openly by WDC.

"I am not so happy about our money being spent in tearing down the flyover in the middle of town,"

Agree entireley, if they do this, this will be a very big mistake, and not something you could "just put back" afterwards.

Without the flyover, it is just going to be chaotic, even that doesn't describe it.

gpn01 wrote:

BOOKERite wrote:
"But certainly me and my team are about making Wycombe a better place"
.
I hope that means the whole of Wycombe Mr. Collingwood, because from what I can see Booker and Cressex certainly aren't planned to be a better place. I know I have said it before but please comment on your plans for our area (or should I say your plan to fight BCC re the WTS - the problem wont just go away, I wouldn't be too complacent either, just remember that Booker voted out the Conservatives on the Stadium issue alone, so it can be done in other areas.

One of the "challenges" of opposing the Waste Transfer Station proposal is that, for Wycombe (and indeed the County), the waste needs to go somewhere. Unfortunately for the residents near to High Heavens, it seems that this may be the best site.
.
Whereas the Booker stadium proposal could be challenged on the basis that (a) there wasn't a justification to spend ratepayers money on the dreams of the owner of the football and rugby clubs; (b) there wasn't a need to build another stadium; (c) there wasn't a viable business case (with funding) to support the proposal, and (d) there wasn't any evidence that the proposal would meet the "exceptional needs" test for building on Green Belt, this may not be the case with the WTS. Would therefore be interested to hear what the arguments against siting the WTS at High Heavens are though....and perhaps these could be shared with fellow WDC ratepayers and Councillors?

Let me give you just one argument that is exactly the same as the stadium.
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The roads cannot take the extra traffic, and here is an alternative - Beaconsfield - the site is right next to the motorway and is accessed by dual carriagays, some distance from housing, and pedestrians.
The reason why the chicanes were put into Cressex Road is because it is considered to be a dangerous road.

miccles wrote:

BOOKERite wrote:

demoness the second wrote:
I don't suppose the people of Calvert are crazy about the idea either.

I shouldn't think that they are but they are fighting it. As should WDC. If you don't live in this area it is not your problem, but it will cause absolute chaos in Booker, Cressex, Handy Cross Roundabout and, therefore, also in Wycombe Town and the whole of the south east side of the WDC area.
.
My comment to Alex Collingwood is: please make a statement - don't just ignore the situation.
.
I, personally am very pleased that our money is going into the re-building of the new Sports Centre, I am not so happy about our money being spent in tearing down the flyover in the middle of town, it is something that wont affect me personally. But, as I have said before, there are a lot of people who will be affected by the the extra traffic problems caused by the WTS, and I would like it discussed openly by WDC.

"I am not so happy about our money being spent in tearing down the flyover in the middle of town,"

Agree entireley, if they do this, this will be a very big mistake, and not something you could "just put back" afterwards.

Without the flyover, it is just going to be chaotic, even that doesn't describe it.

I think when you actually look at the flyover, there's not that much traffic as the bottle-neck is at the fire-station end.

Removing the flyover and instead having a single carriageway, while addressing the the flow of traffic at Queen Victoria road and traffic from Marlow Hill, will serve t mitigate any impact from removing the flyover.

I for one, believe the flyover is a carbuncle on the backside of high Wycombe and the sooner it goes, the better.

The through traffic going via Wycombe , going N, S, E or W needs to be discouraged from using the Town as a rat run.
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The through traffic brings no benefit at all to the Town - only pollution , danger , congestion , noise , accidents and chaos.
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The flyover was conceived and designed during the 50s for the convenience of all the heavy traffic that was killing the Town centre (and people).
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It is now out-of date in design and construction materials , ill-fitting , tatty , in need of very expensive radical maintenance and is no longer fit for purpose.
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It was always and remains an ugly blot on the townscape and is a monument to 50s cheap shoddy design , cost-cutting construction and politically-motivate
d convenience building.
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Sorry - I don't like it.

J B Blackett wrote:
The through traffic going via Wycombe , going N, S, E or W needs to be discouraged from using the Town as a rat run.
.
The through traffic brings no benefit at all to the Town - only pollution , danger , congestion , noise , accidents and chaos.
.
The flyover was conceived and designed during the 50s for the convenience of all the heavy traffic that was killing the Town centre (and people).
.
It is now out-of date in design and construction materials , ill-fitting , tatty , in need of very expensive radical maintenance and is no longer fit for purpose.
.
It was always and remains an ugly blot on the townscape and is a monument to 50s cheap shoddy design , cost-cutting construction and politically-motivate

d convenience building.
.
Sorry - I don't like it.

"The through traffic going via Wycombe , going N, S, E or W needs to be discouraged from using the Town as a rat run."


All very well said on paper, but where is it going to go???????
Des Road, and Suffield Road i think is mentioned in the plans, that certainly won't work.


"The flyover was conceived and designed during the 50s for the convenience of all the heavy traffic that was killing the Town centre"


The town centre is already killed off, so that shouldn't make any difference.

"It is now out-of date in design and construction materials , ill-fitting , tatty , in need of very expensive radical maintenance and is no longer fit for purpose."


I think the purpose of it is still very important, traffic needs to go straight through, not in and out of the houses to cause more congestion.


"Sorry - I don't like it."


I don't like lots of roads, but travel on them because it is necessary, and i and everbody else does not have a choice.

Wayneo said.

''I for one, believe the flyover is a carbuncle on the backside of high Wycombe and the sooner it goes, the better.''

And i have to completely agree, it divides the town,it's ugly and not really fit for purpose.
I do have my doubts about where they intend to send the A40,but the choices are very limited.
Now, how to get tescos revamped?

sai-diva wrote:
Wayneo said.

''I for one, believe the flyover is a carbuncle on the backside of high Wycombe and the sooner it goes, the better.''

And i have to completely agree, it divides the town,it's ugly and not really fit for purpose.
I do have my doubts about where they intend to send the A40,but the choices are very limited.
Now, how to get tescos revamped?

I agree and unlike other proposed developments, I really think the Council have worked hard on this. I don't see that the plans are so fixed that they can't be modified but they are offering people an insight into what our twon can be like and removing some of the awful eyesores that were put up in the 50s and 60s.

I for one would like to see the Wye opened in place of the flyover, as for Tescos, Could quite happily see it demolished and started again, though I detest Tescos, their idea for Eden looked quite nice, opening the Wye, underground car park etc etc. Still, we've got what we've got but we can improve upon it.

Tescos turned down every other proposal and sat like a big fat spider in the middle of the area and made everybody go round them.
.
Their own proposal (to suit their own - not the town's purposes ) was turned down so they threw their toys out of the pram and went away and sulked in their big fat dismal corner. Not a single word of encouragement or 'help' to the Town since.
.
So much for Tescos. They - like a lot of money-grubbing international firms are only in it for themselves. In the meantime their out-of-date store gets more dingy and more ugly everyday.
.
Blightco would be a more appropriate name - and it's not just in Wycombe they've acted like this. Check it out on the internet.

J B Blackett wrote:
Tescos turned down every other proposal and sat like a big fat spider in the middle of the area and made everybody go round them.
.
Their own proposal (to suit their own - not the town's purposes ) was turned down so they threw their toys out of the pram and went away and sulked in their big fat dismal corner. Not a single word of encouragement or 'help' to the Town since.
.
So much for Tescos. They - like a lot of money-grubbing international firms are only in it for themselves. In the meantime their out-of-date store gets more dingy and more ugly everyday.
.
Blightco would be a more appropriate name - and it's not just in Wycombe they've acted like this. Check it out on the internet.

That Tescos is disgusting and dirty, i only go in there if i really have to, which isn't very often.

J B Blackett wrote:
Tescos turned down every other proposal and sat like a big fat spider in the middle of the area and made everybody go round them. . Their own proposal (to suit their own - not the town's purposes ) was turned down so they threw their toys out of the pram and went away and sulked in their big fat dismal corner. Not a single word of encouragement or 'help' to the Town since. . So much for Tescos. They - like a lot of money-grubbing international firms are only in it for themselves. In the meantime their out-of-date store gets more dingy and more ugly everyday. . Blightco would be a more appropriate name - and it's not just in Wycombe they've acted like this. Check it out on the internet.

Yes that's true, I recall that they did through their toys out of their pram and as a result are largely responsible for what we have now.

To serve the public of High Wycombe !!!! Who are you kidding, this council like all others don't talk to its voting public and regardless of what people say the so called council and councillors will just do what THEY want and don't give a monkeys about the real people living in the town!!
Masterplan, that is a joke again more of our money thrown away on stupid ideas that a bunch of lazy old men and women have come up with, " I know what, I want to be a councillor !!!! I don't really care about what my constituants want and/or say." How much was the EDEN shopping centre ? and now you want to destroy the flyover and make everyone walk, WDC and BCC can't get anything right and maybe just to show how this stupid idea wouldn't work maybe, just maybe a handfull of normal people of High Wycombe should blockade the flyover.
Councillors of BCC and WDC why don't you actually get off your seats and speak (or rather LISTEN) to the people who voted you into this position!!! Maybe it is time for you to actually show these people some respect whilst you are at it too????

popeye1971 wrote:
To serve the public of High Wycombe !!!! Who are you kidding, this council like all others don't talk to its voting public and regardless of what people say the so called council and councillors will just do what THEY want and don't give a monkeys about the real people living in the town!!
Masterplan, that is a joke again more of our money thrown away on stupid ideas that a bunch of lazy old men and women have come up with, " I know what, I want to be a councillor !!!! I don't really care about what my constituants want and/or say." How much was the EDEN shopping centre ? and now you want to destroy the flyover and make everyone walk, WDC and BCC can't get anything right and maybe just to show how this stupid idea wouldn't work maybe, just maybe a handfull of normal people of High Wycombe should blockade the flyover.
Councillors of BCC and WDC why don't you actually get off your seats and speak (or rather LISTEN) to the people who voted you into this position!!! Maybe it is time for you to actually show these people some respect whilst you are at it too????

Have you actually bothered to look at the Masterplan? In what way will getting rid of the flyover mean that people will have to walk?

wayneo wrote:

popeye1971 wrote:
To serve the public of High Wycombe !!!! Who are you kidding, this council like all others don't talk to its voting public and regardless of what people say the so called council and councillors will just do what THEY want and don't give a monkeys about the real people living in the town!!
Masterplan, that is a joke again more of our money thrown away on stupid ideas that a bunch of lazy old men and women have come up with, " I know what, I want to be a councillor !!!! I don't really care about what my constituants want and/or say." How much was the EDEN shopping centre ? and now you want to destroy the flyover and make everyone walk, WDC and BCC can't get anything right and maybe just to show how this stupid idea wouldn't work maybe, just maybe a handfull of normal people of High Wycombe should blockade the flyover.
Councillors of BCC and WDC why don't you actually get off your seats and speak (or rather LISTEN) to the people who voted you into this position!!! Maybe it is time for you to actually show these people some respect whilst you are at it too????

Have you actually bothered to look at the Masterplan? In what way will getting rid of the flyover mean that people will have to walk?

I have seen the Masterplan FIRST HAND!!!!!!!! Have you??? And by making people walk basically by taking away the Flyover restricting or stopping any traffic from Sainsburys to Fire Station will be pedestrianised - traffic coming down Marlow Hill to go West will have to drive past Wycombe Hospital and join Desborough Road to go up towards West Wycombe Road and out to the West and if you are driving East then obviously the opposite applies. On our already highly congested and stuffed up roads!!!!

popeye1971 wrote:

wayneo wrote:

popeye1971 wrote:
To serve the public of High Wycombe !!!! Who are you kidding, this council like all others don't talk to its voting public and regardless of what people say the so called council and councillors will just do what THEY want and don't give a monkeys about the real people living in the town!!
Masterplan, that is a joke again more of our money thrown away on stupid ideas that a bunch of lazy old men and women have come up with, " I know what, I want to be a councillor !!!! I don't really care about what my constituants want and/or say." How much was the EDEN shopping centre ? and now you want to destroy the flyover and make everyone walk, WDC and BCC can't get anything right and maybe just to show how this stupid idea wouldn't work maybe, just maybe a handfull of normal people of High Wycombe should blockade the flyover.
Councillors of BCC and WDC why don't you actually get off your seats and speak (or rather LISTEN) to the people who voted you into this position!!! Maybe it is time for you to actually show these people some respect whilst you are at it too????

Have you actually bothered to look at the Masterplan? In what way will getting rid of the flyover mean that people will have to walk?

I have seen the Masterplan FIRST HAND!!!!!!!! Have you??? And by making people walk basically by taking away the Flyover restricting or stopping any traffic from Sainsburys to Fire Station will be pedestrianised - traffic coming down Marlow Hill to go West will have to drive past Wycombe Hospital and join Desborough Road to go up towards West Wycombe Road and out to the West and if you are driving East then obviously the opposite applies. On our already highly congested and stuffed up roads!!!!

You've seen it firsthand wow, is there another source other than the Council then? I've read through it a number of times. What do you mean 'effectively' pedestrianised? It either is or or isn't and the plans that are on the Council's website depicts it as the latter. Traffic won't be restricted from Sainsbury's to the firestation, where did you get that idea from? The proposal is to make the old Abbey barn route to a single carriageway by 2018 then in 2026, there's the possibility to remove the carriageway altogether. By then, the alternative route would have been in place and working for many years.

Abbey way flyover rather than abbey barn

popeye1971 wrote:
To serve the public of High Wycombe !!!! Who are you kidding, this council like all others don't talk to its voting public and regardless of what people say the so called council and councillors will just do what THEY want and don't give a monkeys about the real people living in the town!!
Masterplan, that is a joke again more of our money thrown away on stupid ideas that a bunch of lazy old men and women have come up with, " I know what, I want to be a councillor !!!! I don't really care about what my constituants want and/or say." How much was the EDEN shopping centre ? and now you want to destroy the flyover and make everyone walk, WDC and BCC can't get anything right and maybe just to show how this stupid idea wouldn't work maybe, just maybe a handfull of normal people of High Wycombe should blockade the flyover.
Councillors of BCC and WDC why don't you actually get off your seats and speak (or rather LISTEN) to the people who voted you into this position!!! Maybe it is time for you to actually show these people some respect whilst you are at it too????

Actually what you say, seems very true, and makes alot of sense.

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

I disagree. Resolving problems one by one is necessary when only a few things need putting right as in the case of Wycombe. The MasterPlan seeks to address problems that are non-urgent and, in my opinion, make changes some of which will have a detrimental effect on the town.
~
The issue of Frogmoor could have been put right in the last twelve months rather than being allowed to fester away, sadly it has not.
~
Wycombe does not require being taken in a “particular direction”. I do wish those in charge would stop trying to stamp their authority on the town and actually get on with addressing the individual issues that would make our town a nice place to live again. The complex and stadium were other examples of plans to stamp one's authority on Wycombe and look how they ended up, complete and utter failure.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

What do you think needs to be put right? If your want to keep the town as it is then yes you would repair and keep what you have. If you want to remove what many to consider eyesores, then that would/could be undertaken as part of a masterplan. Having a plan and a direction to improve the town allows the Council to guage opinion, consult, then make changes where appropriate.

I don't see that Frogmore has been allowed to fester away, it's still there when I last checked; it's that nothing has been decided about its future, if you look at what is being offered in the masterplan, in my opinion it's more in tune with have it used to look. Besides, it's subject to consultation and I would expect with the Council wanting to listen to residents, that they want to get it right.

The reason the stadium failed was that it was illconceived from the beginning and very few wanted it. The sports centre and Town masterplan is in a completely different league.

As for those in charge trying to 'stamp their authority", I think that in this case, there's a number of ideas that have been put forward, much of it is a long-way off, some can be realistically acheived now some will be much further down the line.

The problem with a so call consultation is that every public consultation really means - We will have a public hearing - ignore any new or original options and just do exactly what we want even if it makes things worse.

Those who have the power to call a public meeting have just one agenda and that is to Dictate rather than consult or listen

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

I disagree. Resolving problems one by one is necessary when only a few things need putting right as in the case of Wycombe. The MasterPlan seeks to address problems that are non-urgent and, in my opinion, make changes some of which will have a detrimental effect on the town.
~
The issue of Frogmoor could have been put right in the last twelve months rather than being allowed to fester away, sadly it has not.
~
Wycombe does not require being taken in a “particular direction”. I do wish those in charge would stop trying to stamp their authority on the town and actually get on with addressing the individual issues that would make our town a nice place to live again. The complex and stadium were other examples of plans to stamp one's authority on Wycombe and look how they ended up, complete and utter failure.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

What do you think needs to be put right? If your want to keep the town as it is then yes you would repair and keep what you have. If you want to remove what many to consider eyesores, then that would/could be undertaken as part of a masterplan. Having a plan and a direction to improve the town allows the Council to guage opinion, consult, then make changes where appropriate.

I don't see that Frogmore has been allowed to fester away, it's still there when I last checked; it's that nothing has been decided about its future, if you look at what is being offered in the masterplan, in my opinion it's more in tune with have it used to look. Besides, it's subject to consultation and I would expect with the Council wanting to listen to residents, that they want to get it right.

The reason the stadium failed was that it was illconceived from the beginning and very few wanted it. The sports centre and Town masterplan is in a completely different league.

As for those in charge trying to 'stamp their authority", I think that in this case, there's a number of ideas that have been put forward, much of it is a long-way off, some can be realistically acheived now some will be much further down the line.

The problem with a so call consultation is that every public consultation really means - We will have a public hearing - ignore any new or original options and just do exactly what we want even if it makes things worse.

Those who have the power to call a public meeting have just one agenda and that is to Dictate rather than consult or listen

DonRockell wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

I disagree. Resolving problems one by one is necessary when only a few things need putting right as in the case of Wycombe. The MasterPlan seeks to address problems that are non-urgent and, in my opinion, make changes some of which will have a detrimental effect on the town.
~
The issue of Frogmoor could have been put right in the last twelve months rather than being allowed to fester away, sadly it has not.
~
Wycombe does not require being taken in a “particular direction”. I do wish those in charge would stop trying to stamp their authority on the town and actually get on with addressing the individual issues that would make our town a nice place to live again. The complex and stadium were other examples of plans to stamp one's authority on Wycombe and look how they ended up, complete and utter failure.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

What do you think needs to be put right? If your want to keep the town as it is then yes you would repair and keep what you have. If you want to remove what many to consider eyesores, then that would/could be undertaken as part of a masterplan. Having a plan and a direction to improve the town allows the Council to guage opinion, consult, then make changes where appropriate.

I don't see that Frogmore has been allowed to fester away, it's still there when I last checked; it's that nothing has been decided about its future, if you look at what is being offered in the masterplan, in my opinion it's more in tune with have it used to look. Besides, it's subject to consultation and I would expect with the Council wanting to listen to residents, that they want to get it right.

The reason the stadium failed was that it was illconceived from the beginning and very few wanted it. The sports centre and Town masterplan is in a completely different league.

As for those in charge trying to 'stamp their authority", I think that in this case, there's a number of ideas that have been put forward, much of it is a long-way off, some can be realistically acheived now some will be much further down the line.

The problem with a so call consultation is that every public consultation really means - We will have a public hearing - ignore any new or original options and just do exactly what we want even if it makes things worse.

Those who have the power to call a public meeting have just one agenda and that is to Dictate rather than consult or listen

As with the Stadium and the previous set of clowns in Cabinet (minus a few exeptions) I would agree with you. I think in the case of the new Council, they have been better at listening, the workshops and the comments they received have already taken into consideration opinion so I do think it's got much better than previously.

Don't also forget, it's all well and good the public simply stating, that'll never work, but it also requires solutions.

wayneo wrote:

DonRockell wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:

wayneo wrote:

ivor wrote:
Look at the state of Wycombe today.
~
Pigeons still blight the town centre, Frogmoor is still a concrete wasteland and there are many empty retail units in the town centre however millions are to be wasted building a new sports centre at Handy Cross and to mess up traffic flow in the town centre with a so called MasterPlan. To top it off Wycombe was unable to put up flags in the High Street to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee unlike in 1897 for Queen Victoria. Even the Olympic torch avoided Marlow.
~
Wycombe is in a right mess and in the past twelve months very little appears to have been done to put things right.
~
Anyone walking through our town would ask if there was any strategic vision or leadership here at all? I fear there are ordinary members of the local community who could do a better job than those who currently hold the reigns of power.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

But if you'd read the masterplan you would see that frogmoor is featured in it..

The MasterPlan is bad for Wycombe, its a sledgehammer to crack a nut....
~
Solve the problems one by one without throwing the whole she-bang up into the air.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

Resolving problems one-by-one is firefighting, one just p!sses money away waiting for the next project, having a plan means that one can take the town in a particular direction and hopefully to within a budget.

I also think you misunderstan the masterplan, it's not going to happen in one 'she-bang'.

I disagree. Resolving problems one by one is necessary when only a few things need putting right as in the case of Wycombe. The MasterPlan seeks to address problems that are non-urgent and, in my opinion, make changes some of which will have a detrimental effect on the town.
~
The issue of Frogmoor could have been put right in the last twelve months rather than being allowed to fester away, sadly it has not.
~
Wycombe does not require being taken in a “particular direction”. I do wish those in charge would stop trying to stamp their authority on the town and actually get on with addressing the individual issues that would make our town a nice place to live again. The complex and stadium were other examples of plans to stamp one's authority on Wycombe and look how they ended up, complete and utter failure.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

What do you think needs to be put right? If your want to keep the town as it is then yes you would repair and keep what you have. If you want to remove what many to consider eyesores, then that would/could be undertaken as part of a masterplan. Having a plan and a direction to improve the town allows the Council to guage opinion, consult, then make changes where appropriate.

I don't see that Frogmore has been allowed to fester away, it's still there when I last checked; it's that nothing has been decided about its future, if you look at what is being offered in the masterplan, in my opinion it's more in tune with have it used to look. Besides, it's subject to consultation and I would expect with the Council wanting to listen to residents, that they want to get it right.

The reason the stadium failed was that it was illconceived from the beginning and very few wanted it. The sports centre and Town masterplan is in a completely different league.

As for those in charge trying to 'stamp their authority", I think that in this case, there's a number of ideas that have been put forward, much of it is a long-way off, some can be realistically acheived now some will be much further down the line.

The problem with a so call consultation is that every public consultation really means - We will have a public hearing - ignore any new or original options and just do exactly what we want even if it makes things worse.

Those who have the power to call a public meeting have just one agenda and that is to Dictate rather than consult or listen

As with the Stadium and the previous set of clowns in Cabinet (minus a few exeptions) I would agree with you. I think in the case of the new Council, they have been better at listening, the workshops and the comments they received have already taken into consideration opinion so I do think it's got much better than previously.

Don't also forget, it's all well and good the public simply stating, that'll never work, but it also requires solutions.

I really, really do hope you are rite. its just that I,m swayed by the countless con jobs that's been done on us over the years. (And boy have there been some whoppers)

However - just point me in the direction of who or where we can give the alternatives and we will see who really is doing the listening or thinking out these matters or if they are just like the rest and being all mouth and no action.

Least we all forget.High Wycombe had it's own Town Council once,and it was not Tory Blue but colours of a differing hue.
It put all it's money in a bank, which closed so Wycombe had no funds.
There was no proper waste disposal so it just open ground dumped it at High Heavens. The stench was over powering.
Until the councils merged Wycombe had no land to expand or grow, even Hughenden park was in the Rulral District, and the middle of Cressex Rd was the southern extent.
The river Wye was open to see, and what a mess it was. Full at times of waste and changed colour depending on what printing dye had been dumped.
Before commenting on the need for a new Sports Centre, just go and visit a more recently constructed one, you will soon see the need for Wycombe District to build a new one.
Frogmore was an open air bus terminus.

bob hufflett wrote:
Least we all forget.High Wycombe had it's own Town Council once,and it was not Tory Blue but colours of a differing hue.
It put all it's money in a bank, which closed so Wycombe had no funds.
There was no proper waste disposal so it just open ground dumped it at High Heavens. The stench was over powering.
Until the councils merged Wycombe had no land to expand or grow, even Hughenden park was in the Rulral District, and the middle of Cressex Rd was the southern extent.
The river Wye was open to see, and what a mess it was. Full at times of waste and changed colour depending on what printing dye had been dumped.
Before commenting on the need for a new Sports Centre, just go and visit a more recently constructed one, you will soon see the need for Wycombe District to build a new one.
Frogmore was an open air bus terminus.

Least we also forget Marlow also had its own council.

It could control its own expansion rather than being subject to the dictate of Wycombe which has about as much empathy with Marlow as the rest of us have with Mars

It built schools and and had its own hospital (Small as it was that's true) Now we are subject to the whims of those that don't give a **** about us and can override anything the town council puts up.

And thats progress - Sorry but it doesn't always work