County PR officers: 'We are not ignoring High Wycombe' (From Bucks Free Press)

County PR officers: 'We are not ignoring High Wycombe'

3:49pm Tuesday 27th July 2010 in

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PUBLIC relations officers insist High Wycombe has not been 'excluded' from a vital programme of public meetings.

Buckinghamshire County Council has been criticised for printing 10,000 leaflets advertising 'Bucks Debates' in eight venues around the county.

The debates are aimed at giving residents a say over which services are slashed as the council prepares for funding cuts of 25 per cent in the next four years.

The leaflet does not advertise a High Wycombe debate, though one is now scheduled to take place in the town's library (see link below).

Richard Wells, a spokesman for BCC, said the High Wycombe event was only confirmed on Thursday morning – which was too late for the leaflet's printing deadline.

The debates were announced at county hall on the same morning. A press release was subsequently put on the council's website, but also did not list the High Wycombe library debate.

Mr Wells said the press release was put together before the announcement adding: “The omission of the confirmed High Wycombe event was an oversight, for which we apologise.”

He said the debate, which takes place on the morning of September 13, is open to all and residents are welcome to turn up on the day, without booking.

However, Julia Wassell, a Liberal Democrat county councillor, took issue with the council's arrangements saying: “It isn't open to everyone because it's at 10am in the morning – most people will be at work.”

She is busy planning an alternative meeting to take place the same evening and is hoping to announce a venue next week.

Peter Cartright, a Conservative county councillor, last week told bosses they should have booked a bigger venue for the High Wycombe event, suggesting one of the schools in the town.

The eight debates advertised on the leaflet, two in each district, will all be held at schools. The debates in the Wycombe district are in Princes Risborough and Marlow.

The council said health and safety requirements would put a maximum capacity on each venue, adding there may be a point at which people are turned away.

But Viv Saunders, another spokesman for BCC, refused to tell the Bucks Free Press the health and safety capacity for the High Wycombe library debate.

She said the council is hoping for about 80 people to attend each debate and if people register interest online it will make planning for each venue easier.

She said further debates would be held if necessary.