EVERY now and then, some national figure in radio, sport, music - even politics - emerges in the news as 'living in Marlow'.
EVERY now and then, some national figure in radio, sport, music - even politics - emerges in the news as 'living in Marlow'.
We never see them, they play no part whatsoever in any aspect of the life of the town - and they might just as well live in John O'Groats for any use they are to the town!
We should be able to have a comprehensive social, cultural, and community existence with such a wide spectrum of residents - but have we?
Look at the Marlow Society. It has almost 900 members but has extreme difficulty in getting even 12 of them to serve on its executive. Currently it has no chairman, no editor for its newsletter and annual review, and the average age of its executive must be around 65 - all white, no one from an ethnic minority, a council house or a disabled group hence it is, sadly, merely representative of a small elite of Marlow and by no means representative of all Marlow!
Why don't people 'participate' any more? They may 'want things done' want 'improvements instituted' - but, apparently by other people!
In so doing, do they not appreciate the fact that they conceded their right to criticise, or object, to what those 'other people' do, or more important sometimes don't do! - and merely contribute to the current calculus of the town which can only be described as permanently vacuous!
Marlow - and Wycombe - and the various disparate little communities which were bundled together to form the district are saturated with the resentments of pretended elitisms which has mellowed into partisan ineffectuality in the administration and development of the district.
On what grounds did Princes Risborough get a new swimming pool whilst Marlow did not?
On what criteria was a crossing of the A4155 sited at Foxes Piece School whilst Borlase School - with five times as many pupils - is denied one on the same road?
On what deduction and information was the replacement of Quoitings and the introduction of yet more 'traffic-slowing-ramps' on yet another only tertiarally busy road agreed? Can it be defended that these are the most crucial needs for Marlow on which the district council should allocate its spending?
We have a crop of bus stops completely bereft of any protection from the weather but our civic eyes seem not to notice.
The danger of the uncontrolled crossing at Spittal St/Dean St was raised in the Town Forum in July 1995 - but nothing has yet been done about it - even though it was supposed to be started on September 18, 1995 - and cost the vast sum of £200!
The Town Centre Management Annual Report 1995, Appendix 'D', noted that a 'Steering Group was to produce a feasibility study on a Marlow Heritage Centre'. That was six years ago - but where is that Heritage Centre?
In 26 years of total disregard by the Wycombe District Council, it is interesting to imagine what was visualised when Wycombe acquired Marlow in that boundaries reorganisation.
Dare one suggest civic emasculation? If that is the vision which they had - then it has come true!
Bill Purdie
West Street
Marlow
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