The Bucks Free Press (March 28) is to be applauded for reminding its readers that “it’s vital that Wycombe residents have their say on the Local Plan”. That applies to everyone across the district, from Princes Risborough to Bourne End, including Marlow. The WDC’s website’s home page also implores readers to “Have your say about council plans”.

However, and most regrettably, Cllr Green, WDC cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, believes (MFP, March 21) some critical comments are more welcome than others, with none so unwelcome as mine.

Unfortunately, council tax payers will not readily forgive the council for spending £500,000 of our money in its misguided desire to help the owner of two local football clubs.

Why, I ask, did the council rescind planning restrictions to let John Lewis expand its range of goods at its main store, and provide them with a site to build a new food store beside the sports centre, and then approve Next’s plans for a new large store at Cressex? Why is the council clearly promoting out-of-town shopping, when it has the potential to undermine the town centre’s commercial viability?

It is too early for the council to boast about its plans to concentrate so much new development at Cressex in the form of a new business park (a.k.a. the Handy Cross Hub), and along Daws Hill Lane almost into Flackwell Heath. Time will prove whether the traffic generated by these developments will intensify the problems at the town’s notorious motorway interchange. Then there is the bizarre decision to reroute the A40 along a tortuous journey through High Wycombe town centre.

Sadly, now even the green belt is under threat, as the council actively advocates building commercial development east of the A404(M) at Westhorpe Park, while paying no regard to the surfeit of existing vacant properties, and brownfield sites. By so doing, they seem to be willing to sacrifice the adopted plan for the Gravel Pits Country Park.

As for the Higginson Park toilet/café, Cllr Green displays a serious ignorance of the circumstances surrounding this ill-starred project. He should read the council’s independent auditor’s report, which found that the project had spawned no less than 22 recommendations “as regards the way it [WDC] manages its projects.” Or he could read the Marlow Society’s submission to the Local Government Ombudsman.

In the meanwhile, we must continue to make our voices heard. — J D Burnham, Marlow