This is what you've been writing to us about this week. 

To send your own letter, email bfpletters@london.newsquest.co.uk. 

In last week’s issue of Bucks Free Press, prominence was rightly given to the delay by Bucks Council in dealing with the proposed Aldi store’s planning application in Old Amersham, but they have also delayed another and equally significant application that deals with the shortage of parking spaces when the new Chilterns Lifestyle Centre opens in Top Amersham at the end of this year. 

Two years ago, when planning approval for the new centre was granted, an important caveat was inserted in the conditions in that the centre could not open until all parking and manoeuvring spaces shown on the application drawings had been provided (270 in total). 

As at the time of writing, only three weeks away from the original opening date, that condition 13 is still in place and has been waiting on a decision from Bucks Council on an application to vary those conditions since its determination deadline of 11th June. 

It is understandable that they are having problems knowing what to do about this, as at one stage in spring 2022, as shown on this extract from an application drawing, only 43 car parking spaces plus 10 disabled spaces will be available on site, and no coach or delivery/refuse vehicle spaces at all, with the shortfall supposedly being made up by spaces in surrounding car parks in Top Amersham. 

The council have bought themselves another six weeks now to deal with this, due to delays to completion of the works, but as they have had two years so far to figure out what to do, can we be confident that another six weeks will help?

Patrick Carroll, Amersham