Wycombe Liberal Democrats » Environment

Rye Management Plan Consultation Document – Cllr Trevor Snaith – February 2008

Trevor Snaith — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:51:05 +0000

Response to the Rye Management Plan Consultation Document

I have had a number of residents complain that the consultation document did not purport to be a management plan for the future, just a description of the area, with summary of current actions. This is useful as a base for consultation, but confusing to people who wish to comment.

Holywell Mead Swimming Pool
Concerns have been raised that Holywell Mead Swimming Pool is not seen as part of the Rye plan. It costs a considerable sum to keep it open three months or so of the year. The facility lies dormant for far too long, and consideration should be given to some form of year round use before the Rye Management Plan is finalised. Otherwise, Wycombe District Council could find that enormous changes have to be made rendering much of the plan obsolete.

Based on key learning’s and resident feedback –
• The Pool must remain in Current ownership – not a profit/private club!
• It needs refitting including improved showers with dual use for the park and pool (in which case the ugly changing rooms could be removed)
• An addition of spa pools, sauna and steam room would be an attraction
• Heated pool with roof, ideally capable of pulling back would ensure use in summer and winter.
• It would complements fully the outdoor activities and we would then have all year use leisure pool.

Signage around the whole area needs reassessing and upgrading.

Holywell Mead south
Could well be enhanced ecologically, especially habitat creation or restoration. I believe The Environment Centre has made recommendations for
• a marshy area at the zone below the waterfall, complemented by a reed bed
• moving the “stepping stones” in the pool below the waterfall to make a line
• a deeper pool below the waterfall
• a gentler mowing regime, especially at the margins and in areas little used by the public to enable the development of ‘field margin’ habitats and an area of wildflower meadow
• a wildflower meadow between the line of the former Carrington estate and the Back Stream.

The Dyke and Wendover Way
When is something going to be done about the swans on the Dyke? There always used to be just a pair, which would nest every year. Since the public have been overfeeding them, there have been more than 50, which is killing the plants and fish. They are also aggressive and could be dangerous to small children. The vast amount of bread thrown to the swans and ducks contributes to the number of rats in the area. The rat catcher‘s sterling work is thwarted by this overfeeding.

Parking in Wycombe Marsh is becoming a nightmare! – Cllr Trevor Snaith – Feb 2008

Trevor Snaith — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:27:16 +0000

Parking in Wycombe Marsh is becoming a nightmare!

There are serious parking issues in Wycombe Marsh – parking provision must be improved.

Lib Dems say YES! Tories say NO!

At a recent Development Control Committee meeting the new St James development was approved by the Tory controlled committee. The required parking provision level was passed with “minimum”. parking provision for the estate. An area set aside for affordable homes will be faced with a “first come first served” fight for parking.The rest of the estate could see dispersed parking onto the roads around the Marsh and surrounding areas.

Your local Lib Dem councillors presented the case to show that lack of adequate on road, off road public and resident parking in the area was a growing problem.

The new St James housing development design does not deliver adequate public on road or off road parking. The Development meets minimium standards but really needs to offer more space for residents/public/visitors /local workers to park – perhaps an all day public car park is the answer within the Marsh area? Ideally it should be across from Fitness First close to the existing flats.

Cllrs Farmer and Snaith have shown there are serious traffic and parking problems in this area. The new St James development will increase the traffic problems through Abbey Barn Road/Wrights Meadow access, London Road retail park access and London Road/Curry’s access

The issues we face may appear to be as a result of St James making. It isnt the developers at fault.They are working with local groups to minimise issues. The truth is the developers are simply delivering what our District and County councils are allowing.

The underlying issue remains that District and County councils are not putting in place the necessary services for the local community. Crucial services to meet the increased density of the homes, increased traffic and parking needs are not being met.

Your local Liberal Democrat councillors are challenging the Tory controlled councils to improve local on street and off street parking provision in Wycombe and also increase the number of parking spaces provided for new homes and developments.

Nuclear is not the answer – Steve Guy

Steve Guy — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:24:05 +0000

I am saddened but not surprised by the announcement today that the government is going to back more nuclear power stations for Britain. We in the Liberal Democrats believe that this is a flawed decision based on a sham consultation. Last year, we set out our research which showed that we could achieve a 94% reduction in carbon emissions without resorting to nuclear power. Nuclear leaves a legacy of dangerous waste that our descendants will have to deal with for generations to come. Not only that, but we believe that the focus will be diverted from developing better and cheaper renewable energy as well as energy saving initiatives. We believe that we can reach our targets by bridging the gap with carbon capture technology:

Carbon capture allows continued use of gas and coal fired power stations, which are flexible in output. That means that they are ideal to use in conjunction with some forms of renewable power, such as wind power, that are themselves not very flexible (or at least flexible in only one direction). Nuclear power, in contrast, is difficult and costly to use flexibly and thus puts barriers in the way of renewable energy.
Both carbon capture and nuclear power produce waste and both forms of waste have their risks, but the waste produced by nuclear power is far more dangerous than CO2.
Carbon capture, unlike nuclear power, is not an inherently dangerous technology using inherently dangerous materials that have military or terrorist uses. It thus poses no risks for proliferation and does not require an extensive and costly security apparatus to protect it.
The risks associated with nuclear accidents are so great that the industry has needed a vast hidden subsidy in the form of a cap on liability to be viable. Carbon capture will not need such hidden subsidies.
Carbon capture and storage is a technology in which Britain is in a position to take a lead, especially using skills developed in the North Sea, whereas nuclear power can only go ahead on the basis imported technology.
In terms of security of fuel supply, nuclear power uses an entirely imported form of fuel, namely uranium, whereas carbon capture will allow the continued use of a domestically produced fuel, namely coal.

Kingsmead Park childrens area – Cllr Trevor Snaith – Oct 2007

Trevor Snaith — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:38:12 +0000

What do residents of Marsh want to happen in Kingsmead Park for childrens area — make your comments known
if you want to comment please download attached and return to WDC –

kingsmead-qs.pdf kingsmead-qs.pdf kingsmead-qs.pdf

Wycombe Community Resource Zone (scrapstore) Cressex – under threat – Cllr Trevor Snaith -Oct 2007

Trevor Snaith — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:36:42 +0000

Over the last week I have been receiving letters and calls from local residents in Ryemead who are raising concerns regarding the scrapstore
I am told their funding and premises is under threat from their landlord, Wycombe District Council as of next March.

When I hear of issues like this it concern me and makes me question the future of Wycombe’s voluntary sector in the current local economic and political climate.

Myself and our local community consultant Hilary Reed visited the scrapstore yesterday.

Our findings
1. The scrapstore we discovered is an Aladdin’s cave
2. Used by schools, groups churches, local artists –and more
3. Developing arts/ crafts experience in the community
4. Good for community cohesion
5. providing low cost materials
6. Opportunities to learn through art/ craft
7. Assisting recycling targets of council
8. Underpinning the local community voluntary and cost sectors

The issues
1. Funding for this project is being cut – Why ?– a venture of this scale needs supporting and additional funding
2. WDC are funding this project –BCC are not – believe BCC are benefiting from the centre and need to be making a contribution also
3. It’s probable by March 2008 the resource zone may have to close unless it can be funded by moving to the voluntary sector

Whilst we were there the unit was visited by over 30 people and groups from Ryemead ward (Local Church) ,Abbey Ward ( Local Church) and the other a group from Flackwell Heath (helping disabled)

Every one we saw in there had a smile on their face

WDC are in the process of working with a newly formed management committee to migrate the service to the voluntary sector. I wish them every success and will be monitoring progress.

More pub closures and loss of more community facilities – Cllr Ray Farmer – Oct 2007

Trevor Snaith — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 21:33:50 +0000

In recent years the number of pubs in the Wycombe Marsh area has halved. Starting off with the Papermakers Arms in Kingsmead Road, after a fire the building was demolished and then the land redeveloped for new housing. The second pub to disappear was the Half Way House on the London Road, although the building is still there it has fallen into disrepair and is unlikely to ever re-open as a pub.

Earlier this year the Red Lion and now the Rifle Butts both closed after the sitting landlord/lady could not agree new terms with the pub owners on a new lease, both pubs appear to be unable to re-opened by the owners, due the requirements to evict the tenants.

Considering pubs are addressed as a part of the communal and social environment of local areas, I feel that if these pubs are to remain closed and end up as yet more developments for housing, then surely there is a need for a communal facility to replace these pubs and still give the people of this area a focally point for social and recreational needs.

Bassetsbury Allotments or Homes – Cllr Trevor Snaith – Oct 2007

Trevor Snaith — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:58:07 +0000

Ryemead Councillors Trevor Snaith and Ray Farmer have been fighting to stop the development of Bassetsbury Allotments. As the
picture shows the allotments are being well used by local residents. Your Conservative controlled council and Cabinet want to conduct research to look at feasibility of access onto allotment with an agenda to build Homes on the site. Your local councillors are asking why Bassetsbury Allotments out of all the allotments in Wycombe town and rural villages are being singled out for this?

The Imagine the Future consultation earlier this year resulted in 43 residents opposing development of the allotments with none in favour. It raised more letters and comments than any other topic across all of the district ! These points have been repeatedly made to the Council by Cllrs Farmer and Snaith.We pledge to continue until the council realise that local public opinion matters!

Despite this the Council has so far refused to confirm that the allotments will remain. They still continue with a course of action including evaluation of access into the Allotments through the railway embankment .

Trevor said “ I would urge everyone who wishes to protect the allotments to send a reminder to the Council to ensure they do not forget the strength of feeling on this issue.”

You can send your emails asking questions to -
Cllr Hugh McCarthy Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability email hugh_mccarthy@wycombe.gov.uk
Cllr Lesley Clarke – Leader of the Council email lesley_clarke@wycombe.gov.uk
Cllr Trevor Snaith –Ryemead Ward email trevor_snaith@wycombe.gov.uk
Cllr Ray Farmer – –Ryemead Ward email Raymond_farmer@wycombe.gov.uk

Bridge over River Wye– Wrong time! Wrong place! – Cllr Trevor Snaith – Sept 2007

Trevor Snaith — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 12:22:14 +0000

WYCOMBE District Council agreed that a bridge could be built across the River Wye, to a new road, which would link the new homes on the site of the old sewage treatment works in Bassetsbury Lane with London Road itself. It will run across the area where the access lane to the Curry’s store currently lies.

At the Development Control Committee meeting, decisions were made without due consideration of the bigger picture and impact on the east of High Wycombe.
The DCC voted for the St James access road and bridge to be approved! The councillors failed to stand up for what is right: they accepted the proposal for the new development bridge and lights. One Tory councillor even suggested that the officers were applying duress to force the decision to approve to proceed.
Others supported Cllr Trevor Snaith and Cllr Ray Farmer who suggested that the new road layout was flawed and would cause additional congestion to the London Road. All traffic turning out of the new road will be forced to turn left onto the A40, and, if need be, do a “u-turn” at the Hatters Lane roundabout, coming back to the lights they had come through when they left the estate!!

The St James development to date has a poor performance regarding the impact of the other access roads into, through and out of the site. There has been considerable comment in the press regarding the traffic problems and accidents arising from poor design and highway planning:
- On the London Road/retail park due to poor lights and junction, there are car parts in the middle of the road as a testament to the problems
- On the Abbey Barn junction outside the Marsh School residents have painted their own STOP road markings in an attempt to prevent more accidents
- Guinions Road, The Marsh streets, Abbey Barn and Kingsmead Road – are all rat runs – and St James plans another rat run through the new development
- Currently our District and County Councils are displaying a marked indifference to the problems they are about to cause on the A40 from Hatters Lane through to the Marsh and in the New St James estate.

Wycombe District Council’s decision making is effectively run by rural and semi urban Conservative councillors making decisions that impact High Wycombe town. Councillors who represent and live in the country wards appear to have little comprehension of the dynamics of the town and the problems they are creating. Perhaps they should book a week in one of the hotels along London Road to see what High Wycombe town dwellers have to live with everyday!

Heart of Ryemead ,campaign for Community Centre moves forward- Cllr Trevor Snaith & Cllr Ray Farmer – July 2007

Trevor Snaith — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:13:24 +0000

The first meeting of the steering group met on 2Oth July. The group includes local councillors for district and county ,church groups and representatives from Green Issues ( representing interests of St James Homes).
We are to meet with WDC officers to discuss how Community Centre can be delivered reallocating funds supplied by developer under S106 .

see www.planningsanity.co.uk

WANT TO BE INVOLVED LET RAY AND TREVOR KNOW

Support your local shops and markets – Cllr Trevor Snaith – July 2007

Trevor Snaith — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:16:49 +0000

With the development of Eden what is going to happen to our local shops?

We are seeing small businesses being pushed out of business by the weight of the large retailers, Trevor Snaith and Ray Farmer are asking the council to invest in our local communities to support local shops for local people

The Friends of the Earthg have recently produced an advert you may find interesting

Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGoWKVA87ro

The competition authorities are currently investigating supermarkets.

In January they published their interim report. In this report, they recognised several potential problems related to supermarket dominance.

The next stage of this inquiry is crucial. Tough action is urgently needed to control the power of the supermarkets.

We have the opportunity to ask the Competition Commission to make the grocery industry fairer for everyone.

We must urge them to investigate the things that really matter:

Stronger planning policies
Needed to protect smaller shops.
Supermarket code of practice
Needed to protect the interests of consumers, farmers, workers and the environment.

After all, who wants cheap food if it’s at the expense of people and the planet?