During my lunchtime walk today I ventured down Crendon Street and happened to glance in some of the estate agents windows. I could not believe the outrageous prices being asked for houses in Wycombe.

An average three bed semi was over two hundred thousand pounds. Of course I have no intention whatsoever of selling my own house but for the younger generation owning a house can be no more than a dream. Back in the 1930’s when Wycombe last underwent a major housing expansion the price for a new house would have been just a few hundred pounds.

With rising interest rates I fear for those who have committed everything in search of a house of their own. A few more interest rate rises and we could easily be back to the problems of negative equity last suffered in the 1990’s. If interest rates rise further even the affordable homes will soon become unaffordable.

Many years ago I was listening to the radio and heard about villages where the youngsters could not afford to buy a house in the village where their families had lived for generations. I fear the same problem is happening in Wycombe and there seems nothing that can be done.