Public have their say on Marlow's town plan (From Bucks Free Press)
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Public have their say on Marlow's town plan
2:47pm Monday 3rd September 2012 in News By Rebecca Cain
Jocelyn Towns at Marlow Town Regatta
MARLOW'S Mayor emphasised it was early days for a new vision for the town at the weekend.
A ten year plan has been drawn up by Marlow Town Council, with projects put forward to improve the town.
It wants to consult the public at a number of meetings and the first was held on Saturday at All Saints Parish Church Hall.
Mayor Jocelyn Towns, deputy Mayor, Suzanne Brown and cllr Kathy Thomson showed a small presentation about the council's ideas.
Projects put forward were to explore new events and facilities, for example: a music festival, children's literary festival, traditional markets, classic car show, open air opera or community cinema.
Cllr Thomson said what they don't want to do is to just do what they think- they want people's views on the ideas.
Another idea is to appoint a Business Czar to help deliver the needs of businesses in the town.
A member of the public said Marlow Town Council deserves a higher share of the council tax from Wycombe District Council.
He said: "We will support you any way we can but I think money-wise you are struggling."
Another said she believed it is sad a town this size does not have adequate theatre facilities, while another said they thought the idea of a market in the town was a good one.
Cllr Roy Cadman said: "We have got a world famous author to back up a literary festival. Part of Frankenstein was penned here. How about a festival of horror film and literature?"
Mary Shelley finished writing Frankenstein when she was staying in West Street, Marlow.
Someone else said they should look at promoting the river and compared Marlow to Henley, but Cllr Towns said the difference is that Henley owns the river bank.
Cllr Thomson also said the Marlow Regatta is doing a great job anyway.
Cllr Brown said they need the public's help to make the dream a reality and a lot of the ideas depend on willing volunteers.
Rod Braybrooke, from the Marlow Chamber of Trade, said: "I feel the consultation with the groups has not been properly addressed. "I feel that the Chamber, and the forum, should be consulted and not just with one person but as a group."
Cllr Towns said: "People say why haven't you been to see us? We could not get around to everybody.
"That is why we have set up these meetings so that we can. It is not a them and us situation. It is us together."
She said it is very early days in the consultation. The next meeting takes place on Saturday 15 September, 10am to midday in All Saints Parish Hall, The Causeway.
See the plan at here and comment by emailing office@marlow-tc.gov.uk.
Comments(2)
DonRockell
says...
10:25pm Sun 9 Sep 12
Kitchenman33 wrote:Things are changing at the Regatta - and things will be announced on that shortly including new events
I think the intentions are good but surely a TEN year plan is over ambitious in the current economic climate & recession.
I must also question Cllr Thomson on her quote that the Marlow Regatta is doing a great job! It's getting less each year, no real rowing, no concert, no fireworks, early closing of the fair & drunken idiots all over town! How is that doing a great job. No wonder you want to reduce the number of plastic bags & bottles in town, it will be easier than putting the Regatta right.
Get behind and support it - stand up to those that want to drag it down and trample on those who want to have fun.
Demand that we get back Marlows biggest weekend and make it an event that we all want again. Stop the over policing but also stop the over scare mongering that persisted every year.
Every big event has its idiots but that does not mean the whole event need to suffer or be shut down for the tiny few.
Kitchenman33 says...
1:41am Tue 4 Sep 12
I must also question Cllr Thomson on her quote that the Marlow Regatta is doing a great job! It's getting less each year, no real rowing, no concert, no fireworks, early closing of the fair & drunken idiots all over town! How is that doing a great job. No wonder you want to reduce the number of plastic bags & bottles in town, it will be easier than putting the Regatta right.