RE: Columnist Ivor’s call for the River Wye to be uncovered. THE recent article by Ivor expressed the thoughts of many older residents of High Wycombe and surrounding villages regarding the River Wye.
However, as an older resident myself, who has lived here for 75 years, I feel there are too many obstacles in the way for such a scheme.
For the first 18 years of my life I lived in Van Place, Oxford Road, which is now covered by Sainsbury’s.
My boyhood memories are of men sat on Bridge Street catching fish in the river, my friends and I racing wooden boats from one footbridge to another, finishing at the Oxford Road Methodist Chapel.
Unfortunately, I also witnessed the gradual destruction of a lovely river.
Factory waste and oils contaminated the waters and killed off all kinds of fish and water life. I do not think today’s society will be any better, as rubbish such as store trolleys, food cartons, drink bottles etc will be deposited in the river.
The Hughenden Stream is a good example of this behaviour and although it is not flowing any more, it is still a dumping ground.
Of course I could be wrong in my thoughts on this subject and if the River Wye would somehow be restored to its pre-1940s glory, then what an asset it would be for High Wycombe.
Terry Baker, Orchard Way, Holmer Green
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