The High Wycombe Society has backed plans to reopen the River Wye through the town centre - urging councillors to "spend Wycombe's money in Wycombe". 

As Wycombe District Council's cabinet is poised to make a decision on an ambitious project to reopen the historic river through High Wycombe, the society has come out publicly in favour of the plans. 

The High Wycombe Society has long campaigned for the return of a "healthy" river to the town centre and one of the aims of the society in 1999 was to "work for the de-culverting and upgrading of our waterways". 

Plans to reopen the River Wye between Westbourne Street and the Arch Way roundabout - which is tipped to cost around £3 million - were thought up by Cllr Hugh McCarthy, who claimed it could "make amends" for bad planning decisions in the past. 

After leading a project to look into the feasibility of reopening the Wye, Cllr McCarthy presented the plans to cabinet last month.

A decision by cabinet on whether to press on with the project is expected within the next few months. 

Jackie Kay, chairman of The High Wycombe Society, said: "Members of the High Wycombe Society care deeply about the unique history, heritage and look of High Wycombe. 

"At our Annual General Meeting this year, members voted almost unanimously in favour of de-culverting the River Wye beside this stretch of road. 

"We are convinced that this expenditure would enhance the look and appeal of the town centre, and remind us all that High Wycombe's illustrious past and present is based on this beautiful, meandering chalk stream. 

"We urge cabinet members to grasp this 'once in a generation' opportunity to make a bold and important decision that we will all benefit from for many decades, or even centuries, to come."