What did we do wrong? I ask this question because in the past 24 hours Wycombe has been hit with three pieces of bad news. Firstly WDC voted to increase their share of the Council Tax by 3.2%. Secondly the members of the Council voted to extend the SPA and thirdly there is talk (but only talk) of closing Wycombe General Hospital.

The Council Tax: It’s outrageous that Council Tax can rise above inflation especially as time and effort is being wasted coming up with ridiculous ideas such as a dovecot costing £22k per year to maintain as mentioned in my last blog. Until things are being run efficiently I can see no justification for an increase in Council Tax whatsoever.

The SPA: The current SPA has killed this town and extending it will only benefit those who collect the money from the parking fines. Why should we have to pay to park outside our homes or if we go into a shop leaving our car beside the roads for a few seconds? Surely as a town we should be welcoming people not fleecing them when they arrive. What incentive is there to do business or buy a house without off street parking in this town? None!

The Hospital: Talk of closing the hospital must be a concern to all the citizens of the town. Apparently there is predicted to be a lack of patients. This is hardly surprising as for several years the poor souls needing treatment have been bundled into ambulances and driven to Stoke Mandeville even if their accident happened within sight of WGH. To me this is total logistical and financial madness.

It’s not all bad news however as we will soon be having a shiny new shopping centre in which to spend the few pennies the powers that be do not take in Council Tax or parking fines. But whatever you do don’t fall over carrying your shopping back to your car because if WGH is actually closed you will be certain of a long trip to Stoke Mandeville. Perhaps it would be better to go shopping in Aylesbury? No parking problems and a hospital close by. What do you think?
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The author has left comments at 18.51, 19.44, 20.08 on 05/02/08, 12.03 on 06/02/08 only. Any other comments left in the authors name are therefore NOT genuine.