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The Manifesto of the Wycombe Conservative Group for the Wycombe District Council Election
May 2007
We will continue to build upon our promises and in the next four years we will focus on and endeavour to achieve the following:-
Council Tax
What we have achieved!
- For the past four years Council tax increases to inflation only.
- Managed Change – we have reduced bureaucracy and saved
£3 million per annum through a planned reduction in staff numbers.
What we will achieve!
- Continue to keep council tax increases to the lowest possible level.
The Green Belt and AONB
What we have achieved!
- Defended the Green Belt and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB) against inappropriate development.
What we will achieve!
- Strongly oppose any increase in the housing numbers already
imposed on us by John Prescott and now Ruth Kelly.
- Only pursue further housing with the correct infrastructure being put
into place at the outset.
- Only encourage development on redundant land when planning
restrictions are in place to safeguard AONB.
- Fight to maintain the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Town Centre enhancements
What we have achieved!
- Delivered our promises to provide a new town centre that is currently
under construction in excess of 500,000 square feet to include new
retail and leisure facilities with a department store, quality shops and
restaurants, bowling alley, 10-screen cinema and a user friendly bus
station.
- Continued to work with all other stakeholders in the town through
active promotion of the Town Centre Partnership.
What we will achieve!
- Promote a 30-year Vision for all the towns in Wycombe District.
- Open High Wycombe’s new town centre in March 2008.
- Continue to support the Market Town Healthchecks – Princes
Risborough, Marlow, and Bourne End.
- Facilitate the redevelopment of High Wycombe Railway Station.
- Continue to work with all other stakeholders in the towns throughout
the district through active promotion.
- Improve the street scene with our partners by encouraging the utility
services to maintain pillar boxes, bus stops, litter bins and generally
make the town centres and the whole District tidy and clean.
The Rural Agenda
What we have achieved!
- Implemented rural initiatives aimed at protecting the countryside and
enhancing the quality of life of all who live, visit and make their living
from the countryside.
- Worked with The Rural Housing Trust and other Housing agencies to
provide Affordable Housing in villages.
- Invested in projects that give a better environment for villages and
enhanced the recreational use of the countryside. Supported the
County Council in Speed Limit Reviews e.g. ‘Quiet Lanes’.
- Invested £400,000 in the Tranquil project that has brought
environmental improvements to the rural areas.
- Encouraged Leisure Activities in rural areas with schemes designed
to improve facilities for all ages such as the Lane End Community
Centre.
- Installed various play areas specifically designed for teenagers and
young children.
- Promoted the use of Village Design Statements that can be adopted
as Supplementary Planning Guidance in order to give villagers a say
in the way development takes place.
- Continued to support the protection of village conservation areas.
- Encouraged Rural Transport Initiatives that seek to increase the
number of villages served by public transport services.
- Supported the Rural Economy by aiding farm diversification.
- Supported local businesses by use of small business rate relief.
What we will achieve!
- Support and encourage the rural economy by fighting for the
preservation of village services and projects which add to the vitality
of our villages.
- Continue to support farm diversification and initiatives such through
the Rural Forum.
- Continue with initiatives to keep our villages attractive and welcoming
for visitors and ensure the provision of good services and amenities
for those who live there.
- Minimise the proliferation of inappropriate signage in the countryside.
Housing
What we have achieved!
- Implemented a Key Worker Housing policy.
- Adopted supplementary planning guidance on affordable housing
and housing mix.
- Adopted supplementary planning guidance on the development of
back gardens which prevents large scale uncontrolled building of
houses and/or extensions.
- Reduced the impact of Housing developments on our green spaces
by investing in Urban Capacity Studies that foresaw and made best
use of the housing land available within our urban areas.
- Implemented housing schemes to reduce homelessness.
What we will achieve!
- Ensure that Key Worker Housing policy is fit for purpose.
- Fight and the bring to the public’s attention the unfair Labour
Government Stealth Tax on Wycombe Council housing tenants,
which is equivalent to £9.2 million per annum.
- Complete the Decent Home Standards for council housing within
Wycombe District by 2010.
- Continue to support initiatives for low cost housing for local people.
Recycling
What we have achieved!
- Continued and expanded the District-wide paper collection.
- Introduced in September 2003 a rolling kerbside plastic and can
collection programme.
- Provided plastic recycling banks at frequently visited sites throughout
the District,
- Encouraged the community to ensure that recycling is at the forefront
of civic responsibility.
- Introduced green waste recycling to most households in the District.
- Continued with the excellent and reliable refuse collection service
district wide.
What we will achieve!
- Continue to increase our levels of recycling and continue to make
recycling and “green” initiatives a priority.
- Introduce kerbside glass collection across the District on a rolling
basis.
What we have achieved!
- Continued to work with the Police on Anti-Social Behaviour Orders,
Anti Social Behaviour Contracts and Acceptable Behaviour Orders
on individuals.
- Worked with the Police to reduce violent crime and vehicle crime.
- Continued to support the community cohesion programme.
- Introduced the Handy Van Man scheme for elderly residents.
- Expanded CCTV across the district.
- Supported the expansion of the Sure Start Scheme.
- Supported “Champions” to help within areas to promote the interests
and the wellbeing of vulnerable groups within our communities.
What we will achieve!
- Continue to give support to the Community Users of Wycombe Swan.
- Fight for our belief that every resident has the right to feel safe and
secure in his or her home.
- Support community based projects such as Neighbourhood Action
Groups and Crimestoppers which seek to highlight problems and find
solutions to them.
- Continue to work closely with Thames Valley Police and Community
Safety Officers to look at ways to decrease the effect anti-social
behaviour has in our towns and villages.
- Continue to work with other agencies to assist the elderly to remain
in their own homes.
- Support and continue to work on new initiatives to help some of the
most vulnerable within our communities. e.g. Sure Start, SKIDZ,
Youth Rent Scheme.
- Support and continue to work on new initiatives to help our
vulnerable people – both the young and old in our communities.
Leisure
What we have achieved!
- Investigated the renewal/replacement of the sports centre at Handy
Cross to ensure the provision of a wide range of top quality sporting
and leisure facilities.
- Worked with district-wide youth groups to improve provision for
young people.
- Continued to support the summer youth project at the Wycombe
Swan.
- Provision of skateboard parks across the District.
- Planned provision of a bowling alley, 12-screen cinema in the Eden
complex.
- Supported rural leisure facilities – e.g. MUGAs, LETAs, Mobile
Skateboard Facility.
What we will achieve!
- A new Sports Centre with a 50-metre pool.
- Provide leisure facilities of a high standard in partnership.
- To run projects which encourage people to take up activities, walk in
our beautiful countryside and participate in sports and leisure pursuits
such as the Cycle Paths
- Further provision of leisure facilities – e.g. Snowdome, Ice Skating.
- Seek to provide preferential Leisure Centre fees for Wycombe District
ratepayers.
- Continue to support the Wycombe Area Youth Council.
- Work with all agencies to provide cheaper bus fares for young
people.Transportation
Transportation
What we have achieved!
- Worked with the County Council to reduce the problems of the
London Road.
- Continued consultation regarding much needed traffic improvements
throughout the District.
- Provided enhanced urban bus services in conjunction with the
County Council and bus companies.
- Assisted in the provision of the Cressex Link Road.
- Continue to progress the A4010 initiatives.
- Explored the scope for Demand Responsive Transport projects in
rural areas.
- Supported the County Council speed limit reviews – Tranquil and
Quiet Lanes.
- Introduced a popular and increasingly used Park and Ride site at
Cressex.
- Introduced a pool car scheme adjoining High Wycombe Town centre.
- We have offered all residents aged 60 or over the choice of a free
bus pass or a railcard or taxi tokens or “Dial a Ride” tokens (for a
modest charge) for travel throughout Buckinghamshire.
What we will achieve!
- Try to ensure that there should be no housing development within the
district without the proper infrastructure, such as roads, community
facilities, schools, doctors surgeries, etc., being put in place first.
- Work to ensure that our villages and hamlets do not become rat runs
due to the increased volume of traffic on our roads.
- Support projects that will sustain community transport and fight for
improved funds from Central Government to achieve this.
- Ensure that there will be a lasting legacy for the District arising from
the 2012 Olympic Games e.g. the improvement of the A4010
- Seek to provide preferential parking fees for Wycombe District
Council ratepayers.
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