High Wycombe 'excluded' from county debates (From Bucks Free Press)

High Wycombe 'excluded' from Buckinghamshire County Council debates

5:55pm Thursday 22nd July 2010 in Politics By Lawrence Dunhill

COUNTY bosses today announced a series debates for residents to give their views on which services should be cut – but were blasted for 'excluding' High Wycombe.

Buckinghamshire County Council is advertising eight debates in September - with schools in Marlow and Princes Risborough providing the venues for the two events in the Wycombe district.

A six page leaflet shows the other six will be held in the Aylesbury, Chiltern and South Bucks districts.

High Wycombe is not mentioned, though Bill Chapple, the council's deputy leader today told members there will be a 'special' meeting for “hard to reach groups” in the town's library.

Liberal Democrat councillor Julia Wassell said: “Thankyou very much for the invitation to press my nose against the window. This is social exclusion... you don't want to listen to Wycombe.

The member for Bowerdean, Micklefield and Totteridge added: “We'll be holding our own Bucks debate - they [the residents] will be genuinely listened to by us because you can't be bothered to. You're just showing your priorities are with affluent areas.”

Peter Cartright, a Conservative councillor for Ryemead, Tylers Green and Loudwater, said: “I have to agree with Julia Wassell. Having a meeting by invitation only is going to exclude other members of the community.”

He asked for the list to be reconsidered and suggested a meeting be held at one of the schools in High Wycombe.

Cllr Chapple, a Conservative, then said he was mistaken and the High Wycombe library debate would in fact be "one for all".

But he added: “I think by doing two per district I think we'll get a fair idea of how we are thinking.

“I think what we've done is try and be as fair as possible. In the past people have said to me why don't you ever come to Marlow, you always go to Wycombe.”

He said the debates will be about residents telling the councils what they need and finding out how they can get more involved within their communities.

Audience members will be invited to look at budget options and suggest solutions.

The debates:

Aylesbury Vale

2 September 6.30pm - Royal Latin School, Buckingham MK18 1AX

10 September 7pm - Booker Park School, Aylesbury HP21 9ET

South Bucks

9 September 7pm - Burnham Grammar School, Burnham SL1 7HG

17 September 7pm - Butlers Court School, Beaconsfield HP9 1RW

Chiltern

6 September 7pm - St Joseph's Catholic School, Chalfont SL9 8SB

16 September 7pm - Waterside Combined School, Chesham HP5 1QU

Wycombe

3 September 7pm - Great Marlow School, Marlow SL7 1JE

20 September 7pm - Princes Risborough School HP27 0DT