A ROCK revamp would be an “improvement” and “attract more people” to the Marlow Regatta, the public has claimed in a snap street poll.

Plans are afoot to give next summer’s tenth anniversary festival of the Marlow Town Regatta and Festival an unprecedented musical makeover.

The concerts would aim to counteract dwindling numbers and freshen up the regatta’s image following recent alcohol-related problems.

Businesses and residents have backed the radical changes – revealed by town councillor Suzanne Brown last week - which would transform the annual rowing event.

Sarah Gwozdzicki, 22, who will shortly open the O’Naturelle Beauty, shop on the High Street, said: “Anything that will keep the regatta within the town would be great - I think it’s important to get people in.”

And Ms Gwozdzicki’s mum, Eileen, 50, who grew up in the town, highlighted the importance of ensuring that the regatta remains a popular event.

She said: “It’s good to move with the times, because sometimes if things don’t change at all then you risk losing them.”

Last week, Cllr Brown announced that the regatta format could “completely” change and insisted that she wants to bring back people who have been “put off”.

Among those who have become disillusioned with the current regatta format are Lynsey, 32, and Chris Bell, 37.

The Marlow couple went this summer but were taken aback by the “downmarket” festivities and the amount of drunken revellers.

The mother-of-one explained: “When we went last year it was full of 16 and 17-year olds who were smashed – at the moment it doesn’t appeal to a family.”

And her partner, Mr Bell, would welcome any changes that would alter the occasion’s make-up.

He said: “Why not give it a go for a year it would be an improvement, I think a lot of it would depend on the quality of the bands.”

And 15-year-old Jordan Fowler, from Great Marlow School, believes that a rock revamp would attract more people to the regatta which “would be a good idea”.

However, decorator Chris Richards, 44, has voiced concerns over the potential noise pollution if a rock concert were to get the green light.

He warned: “I think it would lead to a lot of complaints because of noise problems.”