With my weekly shopping done I walked around Wycombe town centre at lunchtime today looking at the marvellous buildings and architecture.

Wycombe is described as “a historic market town” yet with so many empty and boarded up shops it only needed a few tumble weeds blowing around and I could have easily been walking through a ghost town like they have in the western cowboy movies.

When I got home it came as no surprise to see a news article on this site entitled “Wycombe high in empty shops league, study shows”.

According to the news article we have the fourth highest rate of empty shops in southern England with 13.5% of the shops empty.

This just shows the disgraceful state our once lovely town has got into. The powers that be responsible for driving the town forward economically should be holding their heads in shame at this news.

Surely something could be done to stop the rot and get the town centre open for business again?

Instead of wasting millions on the “white elephant” stadium how about using some of the money to buy up the empty shops and allow entrepreneurs to start up at a reduced cost?

When you think about it there isn't really anywhere that ordinary people can dip their toe in the business world and start trading without having to lay out thousands of pounds.

Also making the news today was the revelation that the Council has written off £468k of debt from rents. Apparently £140k has also been allocated to a feasibility study about finding a new home for the football team even though the current stadium is not even reaching capacity!

How can such large sums of money been written off and wasted on feasibility studies when the very core of the town is dying on its feet? It's just madness!

What's worse is that the Council Tax has risen by £28 this year. Amazing considering all the financial waste that is going on.

When people do decide to start up in business it seem the powers the be are determined to snuff them out.

Take the example of the gentleman who tried to sell fast food in Princes Risborough. Maybe he should be offered a reduced rate on one of Wycombe's empty shops so he can start trading there?

The ghost town syndrome seems to be confined to just Wycombe as on my recent visits to Marlow, Beaconsfield, Princes Risborough and Aylesbury everything seemed fine.

Wycombe needs to pull its socks up and get its act in order if is to survive. Instead of wasting money we need to get the town centre cleaned up and turned into a place people want to visit.

The question is will things change? I fear not. We need people in charge with flair, vision, leadership capabilities and above all a passion for the town.

From what I have seen and read today some of the econimic policies being followed in Wycombe are as sensible as those of Robert Mugabe.

Unless something is done quickly I fear the town centre will be damaged beyond repair.

RIP Wycombe, you will be sadly missed.

What do you think?