A town centre masterplan construction compound on a popular High Wycombe park will cause an “intrusion”, a council spokesman has admitted – amid criticism from district councillors that the depot will be a major eyesore.
John Callaghan, team leader for infrastructure and projects at Wycombe District Council, has admitted the “sizeable” compound will not be welcome – but says the location “hasn’t been put forward lightly”.
He added that planners had considered a number of other locations, including East Richardson Street and the grass section in Abbey Way gyratory, but none were suitable.
Councillors on the High Wycombe town committee were outraged at the idea and collectively agreed to oppose the use of The Rye for the compound, with former mayor Cllr Mohammed Hanif branding it an “eyesore on the treasure of High Wycombe.”
Cllr Lesley Clarke, who is the councillor for the area, said she was “incredibly disappointed” that she and other local members had not been consulted on the plans.
She said; “I have a great worry about what you’re trying to do. The Rye is a jewel in our crown and we’re lucky to even be able to walk on it let alone drive on it or put anything else on it. It is so fundamental to our town, there should have been a lot more discussion about this.
“We also have a water extraction plant that supplies one million people and if anything happens, one million people are without water.
Cllr Tony Green added: “The timing of this is awful. It is in the school holidays when it is heavily used, you have Pann Mill and the fairs that come. Then we move into autumn and winter when this area gets flooded. It is appalling.”
Mr Callaghan admitted that the project leaders could have involved local members “more effectively”, adding: “It is an extensive scheme and you see this really only once in a generation. The compound and the materials and the workforce reflects that. It will be an intrusion but the ground will be reinstated afterwards.
“[The Rye] is not a great option, but we think it’s the least bad option to facilitate the works going ahead.”
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