I'VE always been a huge fan of High Wycombe, but its serious limitations were exposed to me last Thursday when I took my family for a day trip in Marlow.

I love High Wycombe and I'm proud to live there, but it's stunning how difficult things are made for you to enjoy yourself in the town.

It's only when you contrast facilities with Marlow that you realise we've been short-changed here.

Take the Rye parkland, for example. A wonderful open space that is the envy of all and sundry.

It has a children's playground, cafes and toilets, so it should be terribly convenient for families.

But the loos are at the other end of the park from the open air cafe, while the playground is roughly equidistant between the two.

It means you have to walk for between five to ten minutes if you're caught short while having a cup of tea.

There's been many a wet tree near Wycombe Abbey School as a result of people running out of time for the trip.

Parents taking their kids to the play area also have no chance to nip off and grab a cuppa or spend a penny because they are too far away from the toilets and the teahouse.

So they have to sit there with crossed legs and a dry mouth.

I have accepted this for years, thinking there is no alternative in the Wycombe district.

But hang on a mo'.

Marlow is in the same Wycombe district, but its park facilities are in another league.

Higginson Park may not be as spacious as the Rye, but it massively outshines it in convenience.

Here are a few of the reasons: l Higginson's loos are right next to the playground which is also bordered by a small cafe. We were able to stay there comfortably for hours l The playground climbing frames are a million times better in Marlow. My four-year-old son found Higginson far much more fun as he scaled the heights of its equipment l Higginson is closer to the town centre and we were able to easily leave the car and have dinner at a restaurant just off the High Street l There is a leisure centre in the middle of the park. Sure, the Rye has a great open air swimming pool and tennis courts, but Marlow's facilities can be used all year round Don't get me wrong, I still adore the Rye and, in many ways, it's a lot nicer than Higginson due to its untamed wildness.

The woods, the ducks and the huge expanse of openness are superb.

But someone obviously put a bit more thought into Marlow when they designed the layout of the park.

You have to be pretty fit to enjoy the Rye in full, but Higginson Park will appeal to young and old alike.

There was one downside, though. Higginson's appeal stretched to a group of young oiks who hung around all afternoon in a shelter near the playground, continually tooting what sounded like a mobile car horn.

I tried to indulge them in my mind by thinking I was as boisterous as them at their age.

But I realised my first instincts were correct when they set fire to a wastepaper bin as their parting shot to the park.

Over the years, I've constantly heard Marlovians moan on about being the poor relation in the Wycombe district, in that they are not given as much priority.

I don't think so.

Once you've been to Marlow, you'll find life in High Wycombe is certainly no walk in the park.