Wycombe Liberal Democrats

The consultation on Gypsy and Traveller sites has now finished. There has been concerns raised by residents about the poor communication of the consultation and the fact it was promoted as a web based consultation . Ray and Trevor send out an emergency leaflet to those most affected by the proposed Abbey Barn site to raise awareness of the consultation.
Trevor submitted a statement on behalf of residents to council “ We cannot support Abbey Barn North as a site for Gypsies and Travellers -In the Imagine the Future consultation it was recommended that the area should not be used for homes and should remain as natural area and meadow. The only area of Abbey Barn North to be utilised was for the reinstated of much needed town allotments . We expect WDC to respect this . In addition access to Abbey Barn North has been identified on numerous occasions as problematic due to the terrain and the road, which apart from being a rat run, is not fit for larger vehicles and caravans.”
We will update residents once the results are published by WDC

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There has been a need identified for additional doctors in the Wycombe Marsh area to meet the increased demand from the influx of new homes and residents; unfortunately this need has been ignored to date.
Local Councillors Trevor Snaith and Ray Farmer have recently initiated discussions with a doctor’s practice and have found interest in bringing a new practice to the area. Ideally it will be situated to rear of Fitness First in the Wycombe Marsh Retail Park on land set aside for community use /doctors surgery.
Ryemead and surrounding wards have seen over 400 new homes in the last ten years – a massive increase! Over 150 more are in progress – and another 480 are to be built in the next four years in the Marsh area alone. That’s without the ever increasing building we now face in back garden and knockdown rebuilds. We now have a situation where Ryemead has the “accolade” of being the ward with the highest density of homes per hectare and highest growth of new homes in High Wycombe!
The Heart of Ryemead Community Association (HoRCA) and local councillors met the Chief Executive of the doctor’s practice and discussed what needs to be done to deliver a new surgery in Ryemead. To be viable a doctor’s surgery needs about 3000 patients. Discussions are at an early stage and research needs to be conducted to ascertain how many existing residents across Micklefield, Ryemead and Totteridge would switch to a new local practice. Once this figure is added to those coming into the new homes, we will have a good idea of local need. The challenge then is to get councils and Primary Care Trust to invest funding to assist the Doctors deliver a new service to residents.

Cllr Trevor Snaith and Cllr Ray Farmer are asking for Bucks County Council, Wycombe District Council and the Primary Care Trust to come together with the Doctors so they can plan the necessary funding and resources to bring a new Surgery to the area
Your local councillors would like to know residents’ opinions.

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The Liberal Democrats district councillors have agreed with organisers of event to run a stand “MEET YOUR LOCAL DISTRICT COUNCILLORS “ at the Rye community event on the Rye on Saturday 9th August
Cllr Trevor Snaith the Liberal Democrat District Councillor for Ryemead said “ Its about time councillors reintroduced local ward surgeries to meet local residents. This event will allow for councillors to meet local people and discuss local issues.”
Confirmed councillors are Cllr Julia Wassell , Lib Dem, Bowerdean. Cllr Chaudhary Ditta Lib Dem , Bowerdean. Cllr Ray Farmer, Lib Dem, Ryemead. Cllr Trevor Snaith Lib Dem Ryemead.
Cllr Ray Farmer said “ If this proves successful we plan to propose that the council adopts this form of activity at community events across the town wards”

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Do your councillors listen to local residents? That is the question I am often asked, I answer that your Local Liberal Democrat councillors do. Regrettably, I am constantly being told that the Tory controlled Council and Tory cabinet do not appear to be in touch with the needs of the Town.

To date I have seen over 30 comments from concerned residents on the new children’s play area.
The main issues being raised by residents are:-
• Lack of consultation with local residents and groups.
• Concerns over location of the play area.
• Area not easy to monitor and police.
• Will become a late night magnet for drinking and antisocial problems.

There is a perception that the council don’t listen to local people! Your Liberal Democrat councillors have raised the issues of the Play area on numerous occasions and more recently at a full council meeting . The Tory majority and Tory Cabinet continue to push ahead saying the Play area is needed for the District!
The real questions remain unresolved;
• Where on the Rye do the residents of the Town want the play area ?
• Have the local residents been able to make comment and influence the decision?

This week sees the footings for the play area being laid — what message of comfort is this sending to the residents who are telling me that the council doesn’t listen to them?

It again raises the question that if we had a Town Council with local people making decisions for the residents of the Town would decisions be more widely supported?

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Consultation on Guide to Developer Contributions

A consultation will take place to the Developer’s Guide to WDC’s Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document. This is important as it ensures that wards and areas of the town that bear the pain from new building get their fair share of the benefits in terms of spend on schools/transport/community provision/ect.
The Town to date has been the main recipient of the pain from new building . The question is has the Town received the full benefit in terms of developer contributions. Have we seen the resulting spend being directed to the areas that have seen the pain of the new developments? In Ryemead we have seen massive development but little reinvestment back into the area in terms of investment in community centres, alleviating traffic congestion or addressing parking problems.

Residents are commenting that they dont see real tangible benefits in terms of better community and leisure services, new and improved community centres, more allotment provision, more buses (when they want them), easing of traffic congestion and better parking —Your Liberal Democrat councillors are asking the Tory council to explain with all the additional funds coming in from developers why are we not seeing a massive improvement in services?

This is your opportunity to find out whats been happening and whats planned for the future
The guide is the document which outlines programmes and schemes to which developer contributions will be put, and highlights how much different types and sizes of schemes will be expected to contribute to different categories of infrastructure.

The guide is reviewed annually to take account of the latest project and building costs, and the latest information about gaps and shortfalls in community infrastructure.

The consultation will take place from 4 June-2 July. As part of this, a seminar for stakeholders about the proposed changes will take place in the Council Chamber on Tuesday 24 June, at 4.30-6.30pm. This event is open to all stakeholders/community groups and individuals representing groups

If you would like to attend the seminar please contact Carol Courcha by email carol_courcha@wycombe.gov.uk or phone 01494 421277.

Your Liberal Democrat councillors encourage you to attend the event to find out how these contributions will be used in the future and make comment on what you want for your town

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