Home The Society Archives 2007 AGM Chairman

Chairman

The last year has, I think, been the busiest year since I became Chairman, not only in the volume of work being undertaken but in the number of subjects and issues being addressed. All planning applications were monitored. The Society resisted proposals for unsuitable development in the Green Belt, which surrounds us, resistance that was endorsed by the District Council’s refusal to permit these developments as contrary to Local Plan Policies. Not all planning applications can have the same level of attention. We tend to deal with those which we consider will have an affect on the character and environment of the town and its surrounding areas. We have also found the time to assist members seeking help with planning problems. The Society continued in the consultation process of the emerging South East Plan, the Wycombe Development Framework, and has successfully lobbied for special status to be given to the Thames landscape and corridor and the town’s open spaces, especially Higginson Park. These consultations have also enabled the Society to express its views on land usage within its area, the future levels of traffic and parking control and the provision of safe pedestrian walkways and cycle paths through the town. Articles in this Review by Bob Savidge and David Steele illustrate the volume and complexity of this work. 2006/7 saw continued research into local history by the Local History Group and a full programme of workshops, lectures, outside visits and special events has been achieved, as set out by Peter Bailey, to promote interest in and understanding of the town’s history and character. The year saw the commencement of a further edition of the Society’s informative journal, ‘The Marlow Historian’ (Volume 5) to add to your collection. I am especially encouraged by the number of new members who joined us last year. Ann Irvine reports some 50 new members and an increasing interest to help in some of our activities. Keeping up to date with fresh approaches and new ideas is vital to our continued success. I would ask any new (or existing) members who feel that they can contribute to our work to contact me at any time. We desperately need interested and active people to help in planning, history, environment, publicity, publications and arranging social and other events. Until comparatively recently taking action and getting involved in current issues has, of necessity, been delegated to officers and committee members. But times and methods are changing fast and there is now a new and growing opportunity for all members who have access to our website to help us with their opinions and advice on almost everything we do. John Bushby has been developing our website and the facility for members to discuss, advise and, who knows, eventually to vote on leading issues. To know (and be able to demonstrate) that we are conforming to the views of our membership is very important to the strength of the Society’s influence, so please don’t neglect John’s advice to give us your email address and his invitation to join the Website Forum as it develops, so that we can extend membership communication. Our finances are in the capable hands of our Hon Treasurer, Peter Welch. From our accounts, published in this Review, you will see that the Society has accrued sufficient funds to meet our liabilities and any future expense we may incur in seeking legal opinion that we might need in the forthcoming year. One of these costs is the welcome prospect of premises in Marlow for housing our records, photographs and artefacts and to act as our administrative office and centre. Arrangements are not yet complete, but I hope to report progress on this front in the forthcoming year Finally, I must end on a sad note as the last year has seen the deaths of Mary Cowling, Roy Harding and Joan Muir-Smith, a huge loss for those who knew them and their contribution to the establishment and purpose of our Society. Ron Waters

 

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