Criticism of High Wycombe High Street has been disputed by leading town decision makers as they hit back saying the area is “vibrant, not vacant” after deciding to target “value retailing”.

In the last few years, residents have complained about the state of the town centre, with councillors now being slammed for investing more in out-of-town improvements like the Handy Cross Hub development.

However, Wycombe District Council has denied the area is being neglected with spokesman Sue Robinson saying they continue to work hard to ensure High Wycombe has a town centre it can be proud of.

She said: “The town's High Street is vibrant, but not vacant and has re-positioned itself with 'value retailing'.”

The comments came after High Wycombe residents called for action over the “dirty” conditions of Wycombe Swan car park – which one campaigner labelled as the “entrance to our High Street”.

Caroline Watson pointed to the £150 million Handy Cross Hub development whilst comparing efforts being made to maintain similar standards in the town centre.

Bucks Free Press:

Last week, Caroline Watson described Wycombe Swan car park as "obscene".

She said: “They are spending millions of pounds on a brand new sports centre, which I’m sure will be very nice, but what are they doing to our High Street?

“If they can’t help make the improvements people want, what can they do to help the High Street and local businesses?”

But, while some retail units have remained empty and other stores have moved to the Eden Shopping Centre, WDC pinpointed a number of improvements they have made.

Mrs Robinson said: “We work closely with HWBidCo [High Wycombe Business Improvement District Company] and with a range of other local partners.

“We've invested in local properties along the High Street - such as the Enterprise HQ which HWBidCo are using as an incubator starter unit for local businesses.

“We've also invested in 4-5 Church Street [the old Milletts shop] and are refurbishing and reinvigorating that property to rent out.

“We've refurbished the old Burtons shop on Frogmoor too.”

She added: “Elsewhere in the town centre, we're adding some free car parking spaces and planting trees at Bull Lane on Frogmoor and last year we transformed the space at Pauls Row to make it a more people friendly area.”

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press earlier this month, John Lewis managing director defended the growth of out-of-town businesses in Wycombe.

HWBIDco chief executive Oliver O’Dell said: “As well as the physical improvements we're also bringing the town’s businesses together and enabling collective action through the Business Improvement District (BID) - that's a key part of the process.

“Town centre businesses are already working together on initiatives to reduce their core costs, provide more customer interaction and to challenge the consistency and quality of the economic offer in the town.

“These are just as, if not more important long term to ensure a competitive advantage for our town.”