Why not give Eden the benefit of the doubt?

7:25pm Friday 21st March 2008

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I BECAME very depressed as I edited the Bucks Free Press' letters pages this week.

There were nine letters all about Eden - and all of them were largely negative.

I've also come across a number of barbed comments about High Wycombe's new shopping centre. There are sections of the public who believe it's a retrograde step for the town and believe it could have been done better.

Fair enough. The public is entitled to free speech and I would be the last person to deny them the right to moan and groan about something as important as this £300m development.

And, it's also true, that some of the complaints will be justified, because the centre isn't perfect.

However, by and large, I honestly believe this is the best thing since sliced bread for Wycombe. Eden is a triumph and will save the town from terminal decline.

Some of you will no doubt accuse me of being in the council's pocket'. That's a laugh, because until Eden came along I swear councillors kept voodoo dolls of me.

They loved our coverage until this week when our Midweek paper led with a story about district council officers all being given two hours off to go to Eden. I know that went down like a lead balloon and has probably brought about the reintroduction of the Steve Cohen dartboard.

But our job is only to serve you, the public, so I hope you will believe me when I do say that Eden is fabulous and commend you all to at least give it a chance.

I spent most of last Saturday in the centre, and it felt like being in another shiny new world. Yes, it was pricey, but then again I didn't have to stay for lunch and dinner, and have wine, starters, coffee, main meal and dessert with my main meal.

I didn't have to go to the movies to see Horton Hears a Who, but isn't it great to be able to be spontaneous and decide on the spur of the moment you want to see a film - and then be able to walk straight in because the cinema is right there?

I even like the fact that the centre isn't enclosed like a traditional mall. Yes, it means you get your hair a bit wet during a rainstorm, but it's hardly a hardship to walk outside for a moment to go from one shop to another.

The best bit of it all was the toilets. For years, High Wycombe has suffered a scandalous lack of public conveniences, but suddenly there are loos galore, making the whole experience so much more comfortable.

I can't count the number of times I used to sneak into the old Marks and Sparks and use their toilet because there was little other option.

I can't really comment on the quality of the shops because I hate shopping. But since I have to go each week, it's nice to do it in such a quality environment with lots of leisure activities around you.

I also cannot comment on the parking because for a laugh we took a bus in. It was far too expensive of course - more than £3 for three people on a short single fare.

But the cab only cost £4 door-to-door on the way back, so I really have no idea why a family would ever wish to take a bus.

The only real negative for me at Eden came when I bought a brand new watch at the House of Fraser for Mrs Editor's Chair's birthday. It was the first day of the gleaming new store and I was impressed by the quality service and the quality guarantee.

But, I was far from impressed the following day when I handed it over to my wife - because it had a stud missing from the side.

Naturally, the store took it back on the Saturday and clearly this was just a piece of bad luck, but it was hardly the point. It meant she couldn't wear it for her birthday and, more depressingly, she decided it wasn't the model for her, so we got a refund instead of an exchange.

We will no doubt spend the next three months shopping for a watch - when she probably would have kept the first one on sentimental grounds had it been in perfect nick.

But, life's hard and I'm not complaining. I'm giving Eden the benefit of the doubt - I only wish you lot would as well.