Marlow is often regarded as a well to do, up market town which has mostly shrugged of the nasties of modernisation.

Wycombe has lots its historic buildings yet Marlow has managed to retain so many of the marvellous old buildings which give the town its character.

There are no multi-storey car parks in Marlow, no tramps begging on the street and the town still has a real olde world atmosphere which adds immensely to the enjoyment of visiting.

Even the supermarkets in Marlow have mostly blended in to the towns natural fabric and you won't see any shiny steel and glass office blocks dominating the Marlow skyline.

However it seems things are changing.

A short while ago it was announced that of all things a pizza parlour was to open in the town. Now it seems a bookmakers is opening too.

What has it come to?

Are the social attitudes of the Marlovians changing?

Has dining in a traditional restaurant attended by waiters lost its appeal in favour of a quick take away at home delivered by someone on a moped?

Maybe the Marlovians sense of adventure is building and taking a wager on the hymns numbers to be played at the Sunday service is no longer seen as exciting as gambling on the horses?

I dread to think where this will lead indeed I fear the town is on the slippery slope to damnation and will end up like Wycombe.

After the pizza parlour and betting shops what will arrive next?

Maybe a shop selling unmentionables will spring up in the High Street and the mothers with prams will have to explain to their children why a steady stream of men in old raincoats are hanging around outside?

The residents of Marlow still have a lovely town to be proud of and they should stand firm against this latest onslaught.

Do the people of Marlow really want their town to become another Wycombe?

It would be a dreadful shame if Marlow descended the ladder of decency and become like Desborough Road in Wycombe.

Can you imagine shops in West Street constantly having several men standing outside on the pavement acting as apparent 'look outs' or ladies of the night standing on the pavement plying their trade in and around Higginson Park?

Or maybe even tramps, vagrants, vagabonds and gentlemen of the road sitting on the benches in Marlow High Street shouting abuse at passers by while sipping on their large plastic bottles of extra strong cider?

A shopping centre would look out of place amongst the Marlow’s lovely buildings and the Dean Street car park definitely does not need converting into a multi-storey.

The people of Marlow need to stand firm and keep their town as something to be proud of so future generations can enjoy it.

If the Marlovians want to know what the dark side is like then look no further than Wycombe....

What do you think?

*Don't forget to read my regular column in this Friday's edition of the printed version of the Bucks Free Press!

*My next exciting and enthralling blog will be published on Tuesday evening around 8pm.