Andrew Brown, the leading partner in Wycombe.Info and Wycombeonthenet news websites was killed in a plane crash in Peru on Saturday 2 October at the age of 30. He had been working on a significant redesign of the sites for a relaunch in December.
The sites will now be closed down in his memory, and work on this blog is also being suspended.
We would like to thank the many people who have expressed their shock and sympathy at Andrew's untimely death.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Friday, 1 October 2010
That was the week...
Hitting the buffers - The Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, made his second visit in a week to Buckinghamshire to try and calm local Tory fears about his plans to route the high speed London to Birmingham trains across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but he only succeeded in making them more annoyed. His expected statement about the route has now been put back until later in year while Mr Hammond and his officials try to find agreement on mitigation measures that will be acceptable. He’s not doing well. Top local Tory Val Letheran said:”He effectively said it was tough luck we were between London and Birmingham.”
Business boost – Further indications that the local economy is doing OK. Heathrow one of the area’s biggest employers, reported that it had its busiest August ever, entirely due to a rise in business passengers, the vast majority of whom came from the Thames Valley, Buckinghamshire and west London. It handled 6.5m passengers in August and in addition had its busiest day ever on 18 July when 232,000 passengers passed through the airport. Figures for September were also well up on previous years. Meanwhile, commercial estate agents Savills said that the take up on office accommodation on the western corridor of the M25 was expected to double this year.
Ronnie remembered – A statue to comic legend Ronnie Barker was unveiled outside Aylesbury’s soon to be opened Waterside Theatre by his widow Joy. He’s depicted as Fletch from one of his series, Porridge, in the statue sculptured by Martin Jennings, who designed the Sir John Betjeman statue in St Pancras Station. The actor, who died five years ago, began his acting career in Aylesbury and kept close links with the town. The ceremony was attended by a host of friends, including Ronnie Corbett and Sir David Jason.
Struck off – A doctor who falsely claimed he could cure multiple sclerosis patients with miracle injections was struck off the medical register. Robert Trossel, aged 56, from Stoke Poges charged patients £12,000 at his private clinic for injections containing cow stem cells, knowing there was no evidence the injections would do any good.
Police reductions – Sara Thornton, the chief constable of Thames Valley Police, said the force had put a freeze on recruiting new officers and was cutting back on backroom staff in anticipation of major reductions in their budget.
World shooting champs – Stoke Mandeville began its countdown to hosting many paralympics events when it hosted the World Paralympic Shooting Championship. Seventy shooters from 15 nations were able to sample the facilities that await hundreds of disabled athletes will enjoy in 2012.
Business boost – Further indications that the local economy is doing OK. Heathrow one of the area’s biggest employers, reported that it had its busiest August ever, entirely due to a rise in business passengers, the vast majority of whom came from the Thames Valley, Buckinghamshire and west London. It handled 6.5m passengers in August and in addition had its busiest day ever on 18 July when 232,000 passengers passed through the airport. Figures for September were also well up on previous years. Meanwhile, commercial estate agents Savills said that the take up on office accommodation on the western corridor of the M25 was expected to double this year.
Ronnie remembered – A statue to comic legend Ronnie Barker was unveiled outside Aylesbury’s soon to be opened Waterside Theatre by his widow Joy. He’s depicted as Fletch from one of his series, Porridge, in the statue sculptured by Martin Jennings, who designed the Sir John Betjeman statue in St Pancras Station. The actor, who died five years ago, began his acting career in Aylesbury and kept close links with the town. The ceremony was attended by a host of friends, including Ronnie Corbett and Sir David Jason.
Struck off – A doctor who falsely claimed he could cure multiple sclerosis patients with miracle injections was struck off the medical register. Robert Trossel, aged 56, from Stoke Poges charged patients £12,000 at his private clinic for injections containing cow stem cells, knowing there was no evidence the injections would do any good.
Police reductions – Sara Thornton, the chief constable of Thames Valley Police, said the force had put a freeze on recruiting new officers and was cutting back on backroom staff in anticipation of major reductions in their budget.
World shooting champs – Stoke Mandeville began its countdown to hosting many paralympics events when it hosted the World Paralympic Shooting Championship. Seventy shooters from 15 nations were able to sample the facilities that await hundreds of disabled athletes will enjoy in 2012.
What's the point of consultation?
There was some surprise that less than one person in a thousand in Buckinghamshire bothered to attend public meetings called throughout the county to discuss spending cuts.
Councillors felt people would flock through the doors to take part in their consultation... the public’s chance, they said, to decide where the forthcoming public spending axe would fall.
There are many reasons perhaps why people couldn’t be bothered. Mostly, of course, the very thought of spending an evening discussing local government finance is about as appetising as a squashed frog.
Then there’s the reasonable line of argument...”we elected you to make decisions, well make them. And we’ll let you know if we agree at the next election.”
But the whole business of “consultation” is treated cynically these days. And not without cause.
Can anyone recall any national or local government recommendation that has been changed or dropped after public consultation?
All that consultation has come to mean is “We’ll ask you. Listen to you. And then ignore everything you say (or find a good argument to knock it down).”
What’s the point of holding a consultation over the route of the proposed high speed rail line when Transport Secretary Philip Hammond meets protesters and begins the meeting by saying, in effect, “this is going to happen now let’s discuss how we can best accommodate it.”
In High Wycombe the council splutter that the up-coming consultation over the site for a new sports stadium is still relevant even though the man calling the shots, Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps owner Steve Hayes, has said he wants it next to Booker Airfield. Anyone taking any bets on that it won’t be next to Booker Airfield.
So why bother telling councillors where to make cuts, when they have already decided what they are going to do anyway?
Just do it. And let the rest of us get back to moaning about it.
Councillors felt people would flock through the doors to take part in their consultation... the public’s chance, they said, to decide where the forthcoming public spending axe would fall.
There are many reasons perhaps why people couldn’t be bothered. Mostly, of course, the very thought of spending an evening discussing local government finance is about as appetising as a squashed frog.
Then there’s the reasonable line of argument...”we elected you to make decisions, well make them. And we’ll let you know if we agree at the next election.”
But the whole business of “consultation” is treated cynically these days. And not without cause.
Can anyone recall any national or local government recommendation that has been changed or dropped after public consultation?
All that consultation has come to mean is “We’ll ask you. Listen to you. And then ignore everything you say (or find a good argument to knock it down).”
What’s the point of holding a consultation over the route of the proposed high speed rail line when Transport Secretary Philip Hammond meets protesters and begins the meeting by saying, in effect, “this is going to happen now let’s discuss how we can best accommodate it.”
In High Wycombe the council splutter that the up-coming consultation over the site for a new sports stadium is still relevant even though the man calling the shots, Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps owner Steve Hayes, has said he wants it next to Booker Airfield. Anyone taking any bets on that it won’t be next to Booker Airfield.
So why bother telling councillors where to make cuts, when they have already decided what they are going to do anyway?
Just do it. And let the rest of us get back to moaning about it.
Friday, 24 September 2010
That was the week...
Biggest dairy – Britain’s biggest dairy is set to be built at Aston Clinton if plans by Anchor Butter owners Arla get the go ahead. The company said the factory would employ 500 people, cost £150m to build and be the first dairy in the world to process a billion litres of milk a year.
Leading question – Bucks County Council defended the questions it poses to candidates undergoing equality training. They include “If you’ve never slept with a person of the same sex, how do you know you wouldn’t prefer it?” and “Is it possible your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of the same sex?” Protestors said the questions were too intimidating.
Nurse jailed – A former theatre nurse at Stoke Mandeville Hospital who was more than three times over the alcohol limit at 11 o’clock in the morning when her car mounted the pavement and killed a grandmother, was jailed for eight years. Jacqueline Loosley, 47, of Stokenchurch was on her way to an alcoholics’ meeting. Her lawyer said her drinking troubles began after she suddenly “flipped” in the snowy weather last winter when it took her eight hours to get to work. She told Aylesbury Crown Court: “There’s no punishment you can give me that matches the punishment I give myself every day.” Her victim, Judy De Gelas, 59, was a school secretary at Wycombe’s Royal Grammar School. Her two grandchildren were also badly injured.
Mixed messages – Transport Secretary Philip Hammond visited Buckinghamshire to see what all the High Speed Rail fuss was about, and confused everyone with mixed messages. Local Tories attending a private meeting with him came away convinced that he planned to route the train through untouched countryside in Amersham, but local journalists who spoke to him afterwards said he implied he would move the route. Officials later said that High Speed Rail would happen but not necessarily on the Amersham route so far indicated.
Businessman’s sad end – Peter Lucas, the millionaire former owner of the successful Bucks company the Lucas World of Furniture, died after becoming addicted to drink and drugs, his inquest heard. The 56 year old had it all when he inherited the company 30 years ago and lived the high life. But his body was found in the grounds of his estate at Little Horwood the day after he had gone out in the freezing cold in thin clothes. It’s thought he became disorientated and collapsed in bushes. He died from hypothermia.
Misjudged benefits – Wycombe Council was one of only a handful of councils in the country to overestimate the amount of money it would pay out in housing benefits according to new figures. It’s an indication that the town is surviving the worst of the recession. It will refund £2.3m to the Government.
Ryder pick – High Wycombe golfer Luke Donald was picked as a wildcard player for next week’s Ryder Cup by captain Colin Montgomerie and, as self-effacing as ever, said he thought Paul Casey would get the place ahead of him. He’ll be staying with his parents in Beaconsfield in the run up to the tournament at Celtic Manor.
Leading question – Bucks County Council defended the questions it poses to candidates undergoing equality training. They include “If you’ve never slept with a person of the same sex, how do you know you wouldn’t prefer it?” and “Is it possible your heterosexuality stems from a neurotic fear of the same sex?” Protestors said the questions were too intimidating.
Nurse jailed – A former theatre nurse at Stoke Mandeville Hospital who was more than three times over the alcohol limit at 11 o’clock in the morning when her car mounted the pavement and killed a grandmother, was jailed for eight years. Jacqueline Loosley, 47, of Stokenchurch was on her way to an alcoholics’ meeting. Her lawyer said her drinking troubles began after she suddenly “flipped” in the snowy weather last winter when it took her eight hours to get to work. She told Aylesbury Crown Court: “There’s no punishment you can give me that matches the punishment I give myself every day.” Her victim, Judy De Gelas, 59, was a school secretary at Wycombe’s Royal Grammar School. Her two grandchildren were also badly injured.
Mixed messages – Transport Secretary Philip Hammond visited Buckinghamshire to see what all the High Speed Rail fuss was about, and confused everyone with mixed messages. Local Tories attending a private meeting with him came away convinced that he planned to route the train through untouched countryside in Amersham, but local journalists who spoke to him afterwards said he implied he would move the route. Officials later said that High Speed Rail would happen but not necessarily on the Amersham route so far indicated.
Businessman’s sad end – Peter Lucas, the millionaire former owner of the successful Bucks company the Lucas World of Furniture, died after becoming addicted to drink and drugs, his inquest heard. The 56 year old had it all when he inherited the company 30 years ago and lived the high life. But his body was found in the grounds of his estate at Little Horwood the day after he had gone out in the freezing cold in thin clothes. It’s thought he became disorientated and collapsed in bushes. He died from hypothermia.
Misjudged benefits – Wycombe Council was one of only a handful of councils in the country to overestimate the amount of money it would pay out in housing benefits according to new figures. It’s an indication that the town is surviving the worst of the recession. It will refund £2.3m to the Government.
Ryder pick – High Wycombe golfer Luke Donald was picked as a wildcard player for next week’s Ryder Cup by captain Colin Montgomerie and, as self-effacing as ever, said he thought Paul Casey would get the place ahead of him. He’ll be staying with his parents in Beaconsfield in the run up to the tournament at Celtic Manor.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
High speed revolt turns the air blue
At first the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond and his officials thought they would be able to brush aside a handful of well-off Nimbys complaining about the proposed route of the £17billion high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.
But after visiting the Chilterns today Mr Hammond knows his problems run much deeper.
His plans to gouge a massive high speed rail link through such true-Blue areas as the Chalfonts, Gerrards Cross, Amersham, Great Missenden, Wendover and the Aylesbury Vale have caused real upset among Conservative activists.
The chairman of Aylesbury Vale Conservative Association has already said he will resign if the High Speed 2 (HS2) route crosses his area. More than 90 per cent of Tory councillors, on both district and county councils, have expressed opposition, and some wealthy supporters are said to be ready to divert their funds from the party to launch a legal appeal.
On top of that, conservationists who work to maintain the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – many traditional Tory supporters – are in no mood for compromise.
All of which puts some heavy Tory MPs on the route of the line in a difficult dilemma. Attorney General Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield) and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) are cabinet members whose constituencies are directly affected. So too is Europe Minister David Lidington (Aylesbury) and the Speaker John Bercow (Buckingham). Under pressure from constituents, Mrs Gillan has already indicated it could be a resigning issue.
Mr Hammond has still to make a final recommendation that will be put to public consultation next Spring. He’s been told in no uncertain terms it’s not too late to change his mind.
But after visiting the Chilterns today Mr Hammond knows his problems run much deeper.
His plans to gouge a massive high speed rail link through such true-Blue areas as the Chalfonts, Gerrards Cross, Amersham, Great Missenden, Wendover and the Aylesbury Vale have caused real upset among Conservative activists.
The chairman of Aylesbury Vale Conservative Association has already said he will resign if the High Speed 2 (HS2) route crosses his area. More than 90 per cent of Tory councillors, on both district and county councils, have expressed opposition, and some wealthy supporters are said to be ready to divert their funds from the party to launch a legal appeal.
On top of that, conservationists who work to maintain the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – many traditional Tory supporters – are in no mood for compromise.
All of which puts some heavy Tory MPs on the route of the line in a difficult dilemma. Attorney General Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield) and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan (Chesham and Amersham) are cabinet members whose constituencies are directly affected. So too is Europe Minister David Lidington (Aylesbury) and the Speaker John Bercow (Buckingham). Under pressure from constituents, Mrs Gillan has already indicated it could be a resigning issue.
Mr Hammond has still to make a final recommendation that will be put to public consultation next Spring. He’s been told in no uncertain terms it’s not too late to change his mind.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
That was the week...
Mrs Speaker speaks out – John Bercow, the Buckingham MP and House of Commons Speaker, is under increasing pressure to “rein in” his wife Sally, whose comments on her Twitter page are causing fury among Tory MPs. They said that Mrs Bercow was “undermining” the Speaker’s independence by Tweeting comments that include describing Chancellor George Osborne as “mental” and calling for the resignation of David Cameron’s spin doctor Andy Coulson.
Heritage sell-off – As Buckinghamshire County Council confirmed it would be shedding over 500 of its staff in the coming four years, word leaked that it was planning to “sell off” or hand over to volunteers some of the heritage and museum sites in the county it is responsible for. The council is neither confirming nor denying the leak.
“Defective oysters” – Former TV sports presenter Jim Rosenthal sued celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal after he fell “horribly ill” from a meal he ate at Blumenthal’s award winning restaurant, the Fat Duck in Bray. The restaurant admitted that the oysters in the Oyster and Passion Fruit Jelly Lavender were “defective” and had been infected by sewage. Former Wycombe schoolboy Mr Blumenthal was said to be “immensely sad” and had apologised. The restaurant has already paid £6,000 in personal damages to Mr Rosenthal’s party of four, which also included boxing promoter Frank Warren.
Motorway din dimmed – A residents group that’s spent ten years fighting for measures to reduce noise on the M40 finally achieved victory when the Highways Agency said it would resurface the motorway between junctions 3 and 4 – Loudwater to Handy Cross in High Wycombe – with the very latest anti-noise material.
Theatre revamp – High Wycombe’s Swan Theatre reopened after a £1m refurb in the hope of taking some of the gloss off the opening of Aylesbury’s new theatre, Waterside, next month. The revamp includes new seats and ventilation system. The two theatres first big clash comes at panto time with the Swan featuring Eastenders star Steve McFadden in Aladdin and Waterside mainlining Cilla Black in Cinderella.
Heritage sell-off – As Buckinghamshire County Council confirmed it would be shedding over 500 of its staff in the coming four years, word leaked that it was planning to “sell off” or hand over to volunteers some of the heritage and museum sites in the county it is responsible for. The council is neither confirming nor denying the leak.
“Defective oysters” – Former TV sports presenter Jim Rosenthal sued celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal after he fell “horribly ill” from a meal he ate at Blumenthal’s award winning restaurant, the Fat Duck in Bray. The restaurant admitted that the oysters in the Oyster and Passion Fruit Jelly Lavender were “defective” and had been infected by sewage. Former Wycombe schoolboy Mr Blumenthal was said to be “immensely sad” and had apologised. The restaurant has already paid £6,000 in personal damages to Mr Rosenthal’s party of four, which also included boxing promoter Frank Warren.
Motorway din dimmed – A residents group that’s spent ten years fighting for measures to reduce noise on the M40 finally achieved victory when the Highways Agency said it would resurface the motorway between junctions 3 and 4 – Loudwater to Handy Cross in High Wycombe – with the very latest anti-noise material.
Theatre revamp – High Wycombe’s Swan Theatre reopened after a £1m refurb in the hope of taking some of the gloss off the opening of Aylesbury’s new theatre, Waterside, next month. The revamp includes new seats and ventilation system. The two theatres first big clash comes at panto time with the Swan featuring Eastenders star Steve McFadden in Aladdin and Waterside mainlining Cilla Black in Cinderella.
Friday, 10 September 2010
That was the week...
Youth clubs’ reprieve – Plans to sell off every youth club in Buckinghamshire, with the exception of one in High Wycombe and one in Aylesbury, were put back for the time being until the extent of council cuts are known. There remain fears though that most youth clubs will close next year as buyers are expected to be few and far between. The county is already carrying out a consultation on drastically reducing the number of day centres it runs.
Business rallies – While the public sector prepares for cuts, a survey showed that privately run businesses in Buckinghamshire are recovering. A survey for the BBC said more new businesses were launching and more jobs being created. Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce confirmed that business was recovering although there are fears it may stall in the first part of next year.
Bucks patricide – A 22 year old law graduate was found guilty of murdering his father and burying the dismembered body in the garden of their home in Drayton Parslow. Mark Alexander denied killing 70 year old Samuel Alexander, and tried to deceive neighbours into thinking his father was still alive and living in London. But neighbours alerted police who began investigations.
Housing block – The Aylesbury area is going back to the drawing board in planning its future. The council never liked the idea of mushrooming its population by building nearly 27,000 new homes by 2026 imposed on it by the last Government. Now the new Government has scrapped the target, councillors say they want to build less than half that and are seeking permission to start again. Neighbouring South Oxfordshire has already abandoned plans to build over 5,000 new homes, leading housebuilders to warn of house shortages in the area in the years to come.
Street lights plea – The AA began a campaign to switch on the switched-off street lights of Buckinghamshire. As dark nights return, the council has switched off 1,600 lights to save money. The AA say road safety is being put at risk and energy saving lighting should be introduced instead.
Honorary degrees – Roald Dahl’s widow Felicity, former Olympic swimmer Adrian Moorhouse, musician Edwyn Collins, Wycombe Wanderers owner Steve Hayes and the chief constable of Thames Valley Police Sara Thornton all received honorary degrees at Bucks New University during a week of graduation ceremonies.
Channel record – Beaconsfield student Ed Bosson, 17, became the first person to cross the English Channel on a wakeboard – a skateboard adapted to skim the sea. He completed the crossing in two hours and two minutes hanging onto a tow rope attached to his father’s speedboat and fell off 14 times. “Pretty knackering,” was his tired but triumphant comment.
Business rallies – While the public sector prepares for cuts, a survey showed that privately run businesses in Buckinghamshire are recovering. A survey for the BBC said more new businesses were launching and more jobs being created. Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce confirmed that business was recovering although there are fears it may stall in the first part of next year.
Bucks patricide – A 22 year old law graduate was found guilty of murdering his father and burying the dismembered body in the garden of their home in Drayton Parslow. Mark Alexander denied killing 70 year old Samuel Alexander, and tried to deceive neighbours into thinking his father was still alive and living in London. But neighbours alerted police who began investigations.
Housing block – The Aylesbury area is going back to the drawing board in planning its future. The council never liked the idea of mushrooming its population by building nearly 27,000 new homes by 2026 imposed on it by the last Government. Now the new Government has scrapped the target, councillors say they want to build less than half that and are seeking permission to start again. Neighbouring South Oxfordshire has already abandoned plans to build over 5,000 new homes, leading housebuilders to warn of house shortages in the area in the years to come.
Street lights plea – The AA began a campaign to switch on the switched-off street lights of Buckinghamshire. As dark nights return, the council has switched off 1,600 lights to save money. The AA say road safety is being put at risk and energy saving lighting should be introduced instead.
Honorary degrees – Roald Dahl’s widow Felicity, former Olympic swimmer Adrian Moorhouse, musician Edwyn Collins, Wycombe Wanderers owner Steve Hayes and the chief constable of Thames Valley Police Sara Thornton all received honorary degrees at Bucks New University during a week of graduation ceremonies.
Channel record – Beaconsfield student Ed Bosson, 17, became the first person to cross the English Channel on a wakeboard – a skateboard adapted to skim the sea. He completed the crossing in two hours and two minutes hanging onto a tow rope attached to his father’s speedboat and fell off 14 times. “Pretty knackering,” was his tired but triumphant comment.
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