Home The Society Archives 2007 AGM Open Forum

Open Forum

1. The Chairman hoped that the Executive Committee‘s activities and policies reflected a balanced reflection of Member’s wishes. He hoped that members present would express their views on a number of topics of current concern. 2. Skateboard Park. Mr Robin Cooper felt that the proposed location of a skateboard park in Higginson Park was totally wrong. The Society has been actively opposing the plan and its location because its design did not include security, lighting or first aid. Discussion with local youth groups revealed a preference for a properly administered skate park in High Wycombe. When planning permission is sought the Society will seek its rejection. 3. Flood Level Markers. Mr Robin Cooper noted that boards showing previous flood levels had been affixed to the Marlow Bridge, a Grade One listed building. It was believed that this had been done, at the behest of the riverside Parish Councils, by the Committee for Emergency Planning for the Local Riverside Councils. There appeared to be no sanction by English Heritage for the location of the signs and their accuracy was considered to be doubtful. Mr John Evans suggested that a surveyor should be engaged to validate the declared flood levels when planning permission was sought. 4. Planning. The Chairman advised that the Society’s resources limited its ability to comment on all planning applications within the town. The focus was on plans that would alter the character of Marlow substantially. Smaller issues were checked for matters of principle. 5. M4 Site. The Society had written to the Planning Member of the WDC cabinet putting the case for a comprehensive renovation of the whole M4 site. There had been a positive response. The Society wished to see the improvement of Quoiting Square and areas outside the Riley Road site taken in to account. The Urban Design Team of the WDC was to meet the MS Executive Committee. The Committee planned to meet representatives of Thames Solutions, a company that had applied for planning permission for the M4 site. In response to a question from Mr Barrie Briggs the Chairman outlined the way the Waitrose application had been staffed and he ventured the opinion that the Waitrose planning team had “taken their eye off the ball” on the question of holding a long term lease on the M4 site. 6. Traffic. Mr John Bushby noted that the Society needed to keep a close watch on traffic issues and to assess the likely impact on the Town of all future planned developments. It was essential that a coherent parking plan was developed. 7. Harleyford Lagoon. The Society, in the form of Mr Bob Savidge, had successfully opposed the Harleyford Estates plan to dig a lagoon and transport the spoil through Marlow, a transportation of some 150 thousand tonnes of material requiring 15 lorries per day for 2 years. The Estate had argued that the use of barges to transport the spoil was “Too Expensive”. 8. Town Twinning. Mr Derek Done explained the growing relationship between the Society and the Taban Society of Budapest. The relationship had been developed under the umbrella of the Town Twinning initiative. 9. Green Belt. The Society held the view that the Green Belt around the Town should be preserved to keep Marlow and its satellite communities separate rather that seeing them incorporated in an urban extension. This is why an application to build a football stadium had been opposed. 10. Sale of School Playing Field. A part of the Great Marlow School playing field had been zoned for the building of 50-58 houses. The Society was dubious as to the advantages if this. It was thought that the release of funds would inevitably lead to more development and a further loss of open space at the school. Claims that the developments would be for community use were viewed with suspicion. It was noted that East Marlow is a “Green Deprived Area” in the local Development Framework / Town Plan. 11. Street Clutter. The Society sought to retain the character of the High Street and was disappointed by the attitude of the WDC Conservation Officer. One example was a failure to enforce the removal of purple patches from the façade of the listed Crown Hotel. The design of new shop frontages was a constant bone of contention. The removal of excessive street signs was also sought. Mr John Evans proposed that the Society should photograph every shop front in Marlow and, following analysis, define those it felt fell outside the levels of acceptability. This could then be argued with the Conservation Officer. The maximum of public contribution should be sought. 12. Trees and Verges. The savage pruning of trees in Claremont Gardens had precipitated a request to Bucks CC to explain its policy on tree pruning and replacement. The Society had used the freedom of information legislation to demand an explanation and after 6 months of effort no coherent response had been received. A meeting with Council representatives was now scheduled for early May 07. It was considered that the Highways Authority had failed to adhere to existing policies. Members were asked to report any tree felling on verges. 13. Developer Contributions. The society continued to seek a clear explanation as the where Developer Contributions, essentially a levy placed on developers to offset planning gain, were held and what disbursements had been made. 14. Cycle Paths. The Society supported an initiative to develop cycle paths within the Town. An initiative to improve safety on the eastern approaches was discussed. 15. Marlow Bridge. The numerous occasions when motorists drove on the wrong side of the bollards protecting the approaches to the Marlow Bridge was discussed. The efforts of the police to prevent vehicles of excessive weight from crossing the bridge were much appreciated. The control of traffic across the bridge was a continuing problem and the efficacy of the traffic lights on the Cookham Bridge was mentioned. The Society would continue to monitor developments. The meeting closed at 2117h.

 

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