POUND stores could become a more common sight in High Wycombe after councillors were told “quick fixes” are needed to rejuvenate the town.

Ten measures put forward to help revitalise the area will be passed to top councillors after being voted through by the improvement and review committee of Wycombe District Council last night.

Lib Dem Councillor Ray Farmer, who sat on the High Wycombe town task group which came up with the measures, told the meeting: “I do not think we need another department store in Wycombe.

“I have heard from one of the senior people in House of Fraser and they are struggling.

“What we need are quick fixes like Poundlands and that sort of thing. I know a lot of people are against these sort of shops but they are what's needed.”

Included in the ideas are plans for a “gateway statue” at the bottom of Marlow Hill, to welcome people to the town, and re-routing buses to stop them clogging up the narrow streets.

Cllr Julia Langley, who headed the task group, told her colleagues bus routes were the remit of the county council, but said pressure would be applied to get buses to slow down in the town centre.

Councillors will also have the chance to quiz Chiltern Railways bosses on the layout of the new train station and bus interchange before plans are finally submitted.

The idea of buying empty shop units around the town centre to regenerate and let out at a cheaper rate to encourage more shops to open, was also warmly received from all sides.

The committee was also told there are plans to extend an alcohol exclusion zone, which prevents public drinking, to areas around the town centre including Desborough Road and the train station.

However, plans to hand over £25,000 to the Civic Trust, a group which works with towns to help with regeneration, were shelved until a similar scheme in Princes Risborough could be assessed.

Other recommendations include:
-Improve signs from car parks to town centre attractions, and support the relocation of the tourist information centre to somewhere more visible.


-Get signs giving messages about traffic and parking availability working by June, or get an update from Bucks County Council as to why it is not working.


-Look at reducing the hours vehicles are banned from the High Street in the traffic order review in May and June.


-Support a change in traffic orders to allow a bus stop in Oxford Street to be used as a taxi rank in the early hours of the morning to help get people out of the town centre.


-Raise money for seating by getting sponsorship for memorial seats, which would include maintenance costs.