MARLOW Town Centre Forum members fear that Wycombe District Coucil is trying to strangle its voice following a heated meeting last week.

The forum, made up of representatives from the town's main organisations, was set up by Wycombe District Council in 1994 to give the council an idea of what residents wanted.

But the group now fears for its position after district councillor Tony Dunn made comments about restricting what could be discussed and then threatened to walk out at last week's meeting.

Richard Hunt, chairman of the forum, said: 'I'm getting very strong vibes that they (the district council) want to strangle the forum. It has been quoted to me many times by councillors that they represent the electorate. I do get the impression that people would like to see us restricted.'

Cllr Dunn, who represents Wycombe District Council at the forum, stunned other members as he made a move to leave last Wednesday's meeting after an interruption from John Laker of Marlow Archaeological Society.

Cllr Dunn said after the meeting: 'John Laker was totally out of order in interrupting when the floor was mine. I had 14 points to go through and he stopped me on my first one and I took exception to that.'

The 14 points Cllr Dunn was making referred to issues on the agenda which he considered to be inappropriate to discuss at the forum.

Cllr Dunn added: 'There is no truth in the suggestion that the council is trying to put a strangle hold on the forum. I'm very keen to keep it alive, but I do want it to be an effective force on behalf of Marlow.'