THE need for a town council to represent High Wycombe is to be debated by campaigners at a special meeting tomorrow.

The campaign to form a town council is being spearheaded by Trevor Snaith, Lib Dem district councillor for Ryemead and Glyn Galbraith, Labour councillor for Totteridge.

A committee of around ten representatives of the three main political parties, volunteer organisations, market traders and faith groups will be chaired by Bucks Free Press editor Steve Cohen, at the Environment Centre on Monday evening.

Councillor Snaith said: "We have been looking at this for a long time because it's all about local accountability.

"We looked at the make-up of the town and we started to realise all of the cabinet members and chairs of the committees are rural or outside of town. We thought all these decisions for the town are being made by councillors that don't necessarily live in the town."

He added the current Town Committe can talk about things but often cannot make decisions on things such as allotments and community centres and the town council would provide more scope for this.

"The real question is why have all the towns in Bucks got town councils and the only one that hasn't is Wycombe?"

The meeting will outline the benefits of a town council and the next steps to be taken, but will also assess the cost to the taxpayer.

Mr Cohen said: "I'm pleased to be given this opportunity to chair such an important debate.

"On the surface, it seems crazy that the town of High Wycombe, unlike Marlow and Princes Risborough, doesn't have direct democratic representation.

"This is especially important in local planning matters where town councils have considerable influence.

"However, we will have to examine what impact this would have on council tax."

The latest budget figures coming into force on April 1 this year gives Marlow and Princes Risborough town councils precepts of £280,900 and £283,500 respectively.

Councillor Galbraith, said: "At the moment we are not masters of our own destiny.

"The additional cost could be outweighed by sources of funding available to parishes that could become available to us."