John Bercow talks at Princes Risborough Town Council meeting (From Bucks Free Press)

John Bercow talks at Princes Risborough Town Council meeting

2:45pm Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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PRINCES Risborough Town Council received a special guest last night as the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow attended.

Mr Bercow stayed for the entirety of the meeting and spoke to the council regarding High Speed Two and the Adult Day Care Centre in Clifford Road which is facing closure.

He said he was “hugely struck by the way this community pulled together” to support the day centre.

He attended the public meeting held in July and said: “There were 205 people against the county council proposals- not a single voice or hand raised in favour. Why? Because the centres provide necessary and practical support.”

Today a petition of more than 3,000 signatures is being handed to Buckinghamshire County Councillor Patricia Birchley in Aylesbury.

The petition was drawn up in response to BCC's proposal to shut 22 centres across the county, including Princes Risborough which also house the British Red Cross centre in Clifford Road, and open two main hubs in Aylesbury and High Wycombe and two smaller satellite centres.

The town council agreed to continue opposing the closures and review the situation in a month's time when the consultation period has closed on September 6.

At the meeting Mr Bercow added: “On the subject of High Speed Rail Link I said it at the time of the election and I repeat now I think the whole idea of a High Speed Rail Link in the current circumstances is misconceived.”

He called the project an “extraordinary expensive leap in the dark.”.