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Whirligig artist

replies to critics

I WRITE in response to the articles and letters regarding the Whirligig published in recent issues of your paper.

The subjective issue of aesthetic merit is open to anyone to comment on and by definition impossible to prove either way. There was plenty of opportunity for Cllr Letheren to comment at the steering committee meetings when I presented the developing proposal last year. Opportunity for all councillors and ratepayers when I presented the final proposal at the public presentation on December 18 and during its subsequent four-week exhibition in the Octagon Centre during January.

The objective issue of whether Wycombe got value for money is easily proved.

I query the usefulness of your vox pop survey of passers-by (September 11) as to the likely cost of the work. I wonder how accurately any of them would guess the cost of producing one issue of your paper for instance. Having said that, it is ironic that I was as wildly adrift as they were in my estimation of its cost. I knew the budget was tight when I undertook to make it for £14,000. I was keen to realise the idea and thought that I would at least cover costs, how wrong I was.

Wycombe ratepayers can be justly proud of their councillors and officers who got such a lot for their money! My family would have been more pleased if I had made the 25p Mrs Hearn thought it was worth. As it is, I have used up most of my savings in order to complete it.

On top of cash outgoings of £16,404.52 I spent over ten weeks working on it, which includes making, administration and 20 per cent of my annual studio overheads. As the contract was for £14,000, Wycombe have pretty well doubled their money.

It is a pity that many of the comments take such a negative view of people trying to maintain and enhance the distinctive character of Wycombe. When one considers the alternative is to fill the streetscape with catalogue blandness or pastiche Victorian cast ironwork as so many other unimaginative towns have done, how much better to have something special to Wycombe.

I hope that you will now take the opportunity to open up a dialogue in your pages about civic amenity, quality of environment, sense of place, the advantages of site specific design, identification of a town's character through its landmarks on both intimate and grand scale, short-term and short-sighted budgeting as opposed to long-term value for money.

Alan Evans

Whiteway

Stroud

Gloucestershire

Sculpture can be

be a bird scarer

SO the official unveiling of the Whirligig has taken place, although for many people they would rather the wraps had not been removed.

Clare Martens says it will attract tourists to Wycombe Swan, although others may mistake it for the entrance to a breaker's yard. What is wrong with the good old swan -- the town's emblem? I'm sure there are local craftsmen who could have produced something more befitting the High Street.

However, if it should become surplus, I wouldn't mind having it down my allotment as a bird scarer.

There is something which would improve the High Street, and that is a facelift for the Guildhall and the Little Market House opposite.

J Gardner

Micklefield Road

High Wycombe

Arts centre is

back in business

Re: Reopening of Spring

Gardens Arts Centre

WYCOMBE Arts Centre must be congratulated on the two-night showing of Bootleg Theatre Company's Hanging Hanratty.

This tense and intimate psychological drama was ideally suited to the performance space. The stage was divided into two alternately lit halves, and the backdrop of newspaper front pages from the time of the A6 murder set the scene.

The actors, representing the two main suspects, spoke one after the other directly and very personally to the audience. As their sorry little lives were revealed, layer after layer peeled back, the glaring anomalies in the evidence became ever more disquieting.

The petty crook, unable to tell the truth, and the lonely pervert, clever enough to tell it in an unbelievable way, highlighted the frailty of 'British Justice' at the time, and particularly in relation to the death penalty. Michael Burnham, the author, played Peter Alphon with whining emotional menace, while Colin Burden's Hanratty rose at the end to a kind of pathetic dignity.

If you missed this thoroughly watchable piece of theatre, let's hope the rest of Wycombe Arts Centre season lives up to it. (Programmes available from usual outlets).

Cllr Mrs Clare Martens

Member for

Marsh and Micklefield

Wycombe District Council

Forest Point

Hunters Hill

Micklefield Road

High Wycombe

Socialist policies

create no wealth

REGARDING J W Collins's letter in the Bucks Free Press of September 18, headed 'Blair and Brown aren't socialists', I really must protest that if Mr Collins cannot be bothered to look up the anonymous letter that was presented, how can he properly comment on my answer? This is of course standard practice of Labour/Socialist supporters. Don't listen, just push your own ideology.

There is no confusion in my mind, as suggested by Mr Collins, Labour/Socialist tenets as expressed by Mr Collins just do not create wealth.

But, Brown and Blair in the last few months have taken millions from the pension funds, companies and the Lottery to prop up this administration.

Now, we have the spectacle of Blair supporting the wrongdoings of Clinton. Should he be our leader? And what trust can we have in such a man?

J V Fontannaz

Thamesfield Gardens

Marlow

Red-letter writer

is out of closet

I FEEL the need to emerge from my closet to comment on John Fontannaz's condemnation of socialism (Letters, September 18). Marx introduced the word to define the character of the type of society which he believed would follow capitalism.

After years of study of British industrial development he concluded that, just as primitive communist society gave way to the slave system and then to feudalism, and ultimately to capitalism; that capitalism would decline to give way to socialism. As, at the time, the conditions of workers, including women and children, in mines, mills and factories were so terrible that they would revolt against these conditions and demand change. Trade unions and guilds brought about improvements and workers in the advanced countries benefited from Third World development.

As an engineer involved in improving technology, I could not visualise the enormous impact of the electronic revolution.

Neither socialist, nor any other society, could work with coercion and theft from the people and these faults will bring the downfall of the present system.

Marx made no forecast of a time scale for the end of capitalism, but, if he was alive today he would see evidence of the decline of the system with its many insoluble problems. Not the least of these is the worldwide chronic mass unemployment, ten million in Germany alone.

These problems warrant the broadest possible debate, particularly in Britain where the three main parties have almost identical policies.

My recommended reading is: The End of Work by Jeremy Rifkin, a study of US economic development, and The State we're in by Will Hutton.

D O Salmon

West Wycombe Road

High Wycombe

Tip debate leads

to Tory rubbish

WELL, heaven's above! The Labour Government is now getting blamed for the height barrier at High Heavens Tip -- see letter from our Conservative county councillor last week.

The half-baked decision taken by the administration at County Hall -- which fails, in its stated objective, to catch many of the trade waste dumpers at the household site, increases fly-tipping, but bars many legitimate council taxpayers from the site -- will long be remembered for what it is: an ill-conceived proposal, ineffective in practice and entirely the responsibility of those running County Hall, at the moment.

The wearisome cry that the reduction in Central Government grant is the cause of Buckinghamshire County Council's woes, doesn't wash either. Notwithstanding the money previously wasted in Aylesbury with such proposed exotica as the politically expedient but unwanted (by the residents) grammar school in Milton Keynes, which would have added £2 million per annum to our council tax bill for ever (plus a £15 million capital cost), or their incompetent Wycombe Swan tendering causing another financial disaster to the county council and a multi-million-pound extra cost to us, we should remember that in 1997 (election year) the county council refused to spend up to its permitted capping limit, preferring to use its reserves instead.

Thus lowering its council tax demands in that year and thence trying to convince us of its prudence -- for short-term electoral purposes, maybe? Its action ensured that its lower grant in the following year was based on not using all the money previously. Having spent reserves already, they caught a double whammy this year and we caught a large council tax hike and reduced services.

They also know that the present national Government did not change the previous Government's formula and rules on grant calculation and that therefore any reasonable administration could have predicted the consequences of their actions. Finally, landfill tax was a Conservative Government proposal.

So if they have a problem, it is one of their own (and their national political masters) making, demonstrating that being in power is, to them, more important than serving the people of Buckinghamshire. Oh, for local government controlled only by and for local people!

It seems that like Bill Clinton, the county council has difficulty in saying unequivocally: "Sorry, we got that one wrong." Instead we look like getting yet another half-baked compromise on the height barrier, when we may be able to visit the site at weekends -- to be greeted by our councillor checking our council tax payment book, no doubt!

Come off it county council, 4x4 drivers don't only pay a weekend council tax. What happened to equality of opportunity?

Cllr David Coe

Member for Great

Marlow District Ward

Wycombe District Council

Frieth Road

Marlow

Business park

is worst option

THE letter headed 'Housing plan is best option' (September 18), from three residents of Magnolia Dene, will strike a chord with most residents of this neighbourhood.

As a young mother with two small children, I feel I take my life -- and that of my children -- in my own hands when I walk along the pavement of Amersham Road. The thought of a business park or any other commercial use of the AXA Equity & Law site fills me with horror because such a use is bound to increase traffic. Moreover, the categories of traffic are likely to change for the worse.

For what some people conveniently forget, is that if the AXA Equity & Law site is used as a business park, it will effectively be a change of use. For the moment, the traffic using the site is mainly cars because it is office space.

A business park could include many companies that would provide light manufacturing, assembly work and a host of other uses that would necessitate heavy lorries to deliver raw materials and then take away finished products. There are no such uses on the site at the moment.

Many years ago, local people were promised a by-pass for Amersham Road. This, of course, has not materialised and is unlikely to in the future. Since this is going to be the case, shouldn't our council be seeking a use for this site which is likely to lessen traffic levels, rather than increase them? Housing provides that option.

At a time when greenfield sites have been earmarked for housing in the new Local Plan, shouldn't the council be allowing brownfield land to be used instead? If this was the case, further greenfield sites in the next Local Plan in ten years or so could be 'saved' from development.

Mrs Valerie

Hughes-D'aeth

Willow Chase

Hazlemere

Councillor puts

his side of story

I WISH to add my comments on the Budget Consultation meeting held recently in Marlow and to respond once again to Mr Purdie.

I have been very pleased to receive positive comments from members of the public who attended the meeting. They found it very informative and appreciated the opportunity to give their views on priorities for spending.

Those of us who had been involved in the planning of the meeting have learned some lessons which will be taken into account when the consultation is repeated in High Wycombe and Princes Risborough. Word has very quickly spread to other local authorities who have asked us to advise them on how to organise and present a budget consultation.

We would expect Mr Purdie to criticise the whole thing and have not been disappointed -- but once again, Mr Purdie proves that he does not read letters I have sent to him, and does not understand verbal answers either. Firstly, I must point out that the recent Area Forum in Marlow on September 8 was number seven in the series organised throughout the district, and at least another two will be held before the end of this year.

Mr Purdie complains of the short time he had to analyse council accounts. All the publicity for the meeting made it quite clear that admittance would be from 6.30pm to give the public time to look at the information provided before the meeting started. If Mr Purdie decided to arrive exactly at 7pm with the meeting starting immediately, that's his choice.

A further complaint was about reports of Wycombe District Council debate and voting. Minutes of these appear in exactly the same way as for any other local authority. I explained this in great detail in a letter to Mr Purdie in January 1998, did he read my letter, or has he forgotten? I explained this again at the September 8 meeting in response to Mr Purdie's question -- the same reply as in January!

The final complaint in Mr Purdie's latest letter refers to the Independent Panel set up by the council to review councillors' allowances (or 'freebies' as Mr Purdie calls them). I cannot comment on the make-up of the panel -- I will leave those described by Mr Purdie as "hand picked, detached, inexperienced amateurs" to answer for themselves.

However, I can inform Mr Purdie that if he had asked about the panel and its findings at the meeting of September 8, he would have been told that the report was being considered at a meeting of the Local Democracy Panel on September 14 with recommendations going to policy and resources committee on October 5.

Finally, I will repeat to Mr Purdie once again -- you do not have to go to High Wycombe to get this information. All agendas and reports are available from the Marlow Area Office -- other people know that, why don't you?

Cllr Maurice Oram

Leader of the Liberal

Democrat Group:

Member for Marlow South

Wycombe District Council

Cedar Court

Marlow

Speed is matter

of life and death

IT is a pity that your correspondent Mr P D Somerville (Letters, September 18) failed to undersand the point of my letter of the previous week regarding an accident to a child crossing the road.

My object was to illustrate the fact that however a road accident is caused, speed is the crucial factor with regard to the seriousness of any injuries. Official Department of Transport figures show that a pedestrian hit by a vehicle travelling at 20mph has a 90 per cent chance of survival. At twice that speed there is a 90 per cent chance of being killed.

By labouring the obvious point that accidents are caused by chance, Mr Somerville gives the impression that he is a victim of confused thinking. Of course there will always be accidents. As far as road accidents are concerned, we must strive to mitigate the seriousness of injuries to the victims. That is one reason why we have speed limits, which are so often ignored by irresponsible drivers.

If Mr Somerville reads this letter, I hope that he will now get the message.

Alastair M Dyer

Holtspur Top Lane

Beaconsfield

Pool survey is a

waste of money

I READ an article and a letter in last week's Marlow Free Press regarding the Marlow Millennium Swimming Pool Project. I understand there is now likely to be a survey to ascertain the popularity, or otherwise, of a new 25-metre swimming pool.

I would like to remind those who may be unaware, that in late 1995, some members of the Marlow Town Centre Forum (MTCF), assisted by a Wycombe District Council officer, formed the Marlow Millennium Consortium (MMC). The membership of the MMC includes an elected town councillor and an elected district councillor. In early 1996 the MMC decided to design and circulate a referendum to each Marlow and Marlow Bottom household. On the referendum, one was able to choose between seven projects already put forward, or suggest an entirely new option, or to vote to do nothing at all.

Of the 1,677 forms received back, 452 voted for a 25-metre swimming pool. Of the other 62 projects put forward, the next best supported one was for a bandstand, which received 238 votes. As there was such a large vote for a pool compared with any other option, the MMC decided to further the pool option and seek financial assistance via the National Lottery.

There have been at least a dozen minuted meetings, chaired by district council officers, that have progressed the project. All meetings have been open to the public and the press, and details of these meetings have been reported to MTCF meetings.

If no Millennium Swimming Pool had ever been considered, the district council would still have had to pay significant amounts of money for new swimming facilities. Evidently the present pool's filtration plant is nearing the end of its life, the disabled facilities are poor in the extreme and the changing facilities are also far from perfect.

The original estimate for the total cost of £1.4 million for a new 25-metre pool was based on the cost of a similar pool in Princes Risborough. The district council agreed to provide £490,000, if the Sports Council contributed the rest. Since 1995, inflation has crept up and other things have changed. Current plans are for a redevelopment of a much larger area which would include new changing facilities, a new entrance and reception area and a toddlers' pool.

So, after all this highly democratic and open work by the MMC, a few individuals wish to seek to reverse a very democratically-made decision. To the people who wish to try to rewrite history, I would say that to try to achieve hugely improved facilities at Court Garden for 35 per cent of the real cost (Sports Council paying the other 65 per cent) is a much better option than being forced to pay 100 per cent for required and necessary improvements.

A new survey will almost certainly prove to be a waste of time and money, as it is highly likely that the result will be identical. But if we must have confirmation of the original decision, then we must. All I hope is that the handful of detractors will agree to pay for the costs of this needless exercise!

John Laker

(Member of Marlow

Millennium Consortium)

Spinfield Lane

Marlow

Coffee morning

can help charity

EVERY week, thousands of people face the challenge of cancer for the first time. Macmillan Cancer Relief is working towards the day when every cancer patient and their family will have access to the best information, treatment and care for cancer.

Your readers can help by raising money for Macmillan Cancer Relief by holding a coffee morning with friends on Friday, October 2, the day of this year's World's Biggest Coffee Morning with Nescaf.

Macmillan makes every effort to ensure that there are enough Macmillan nurses to provide vital support when and where it is needed and in many other ways besides, such as providing grants to cancer patients under financial strain.

I am delighted to be able to support the event and hope your readers will be, too. Organising a coffee morning couldn't be easier, and it's such a convivial way to help. A coffee morning needn't be large -- just the host and a few friends, that's fine.

If readers are interested in taking part, either by hosting a coffee morning or by attending a public coffee morning in the area, please call 01344 873 897.

Richard Wilson (Actor)

Macmillan Cancer Relief

Britten Street

London

Spice wedding

recalls memories

WHAT'S all this then? An army of bouncers at Little Marlow Church? Things have obviously changed since a couple of decades ago when a friend who lived a short spit over the parish boundary (he lived east of the by-pass!) was told that to be married there, he and his intended had to attend every Sunday for six months. It seems that the boot is now quite literally on the other foot, and it has a steel toecap!

Worst of it was, it played hell with our shooting and ferreting, which we always did of a Sunday morning 'cos Saturday mornings were given over to lying in and Saturday afternoons to pike fishing. Maybe Mr Spice did right to get it sorted before the leaves fall, otherwise he'd miss a fair bit of sport as well!

All the best. Power to the Peasants!

Bill Collett

Mutton Row

Penryn

Cornwall

NZ branch roots

out family tree

I AM writing to thank you for your interest and publication of a letter I wrote some weeks ago.

You may remember that I was keen to contact any distant relatives I may have living in the High Wycombe area, and I have been pleased to receive two replies. One was from a cousin living in High Wycombe, and the other from the son of a cousin in South Wales.

I have replied to both, and am still hopeful of hearing from any other descendants in the Deane family.

I well remember that as a boy, my dad joked that he could not understand why he had to pay for a newspaper which calls itself the Bucks Free Press! Which is the only reason I knew the name of the local paper to write to! Thank you again.

James Mark Deane

69 Thompson Tee

Manurewa

South Auckland

New Zealand

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.