Dear Editor,

I must respond to the highly misleading article and editorial in last week’s paper, writes Martin Tett, the leader of Buckinghamshire Council.

Buckinghamshire Council is massively committed to the maintenance and enhancement of High Wycombe Town Centre.

Despite very tough financial times we have maintained the full High Street Funding of nearly £12m and added a further £3m of council money to this to create a total budget of £15m.

The key objectives have been to purchase and repurpose long vacant shops, brighten up key public spaces, rationalise the town’s retail space and improve key landmark buildings.

This money has been closely monitored by central Government and in each case has needed business cases and central government sign off.

The editorial implies that the council has used some of this funding to keep Tesco and Primark in the town centre.

Neither Tesco nor Primark have received Future High Street Fund money from the council.

In this instance, both firms - recognised as critical High Street anchors which are a key part of the attraction of High Wycombe to shoppers - will lease parts of buildings in which the council has existing financial interests, so this will in fact provide an income stream to the council.

It is clearly in the best interests of the town and its residents for the council to have acted to secure both of these retailers in High Wycombe and we would rightly have been criticised had we not acted and done so.

The relocation of the council’s archives is also a key element of this project; it will create a new cultural offering for the town which is another aim of the FHSF and will open up a very valuable collection reflecting the county’s heritage, to the public – it’s a common-sense and value for money decision given the archives have to move from their current unsuitable storage in Aylesbury and we will create a new public entrance on Denmark Street, allowing greater public access and more space for exhibitions and displays.

The way in which Buckinghamshire Council is administering and spending its Future High Street Fund (FHSF) in High Wycombe is subject to regular review and monitoring by the Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It was widely consulted on as part of the then Wycombe District Council’s Regeneration Strategy, which underwent wide stakeholder engagement during 2019 before it was agreed.

I hope that this demonstrates the enormous importance that Buckinghamshire Council attaches to High Wycombe’s High Street and its future prosperity.