Meeting documents

The Commission considered and discussed the report and draft recommendations of the Return of the River Wye Task and Finish Group.  The report featured eight draft recommendations for consideration for onward referral to Cabinet in November 2018.

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group: Councillor Hugh McCarthy provided the Commission with a short presentation and guided members through the draft recommendations.

The Task and Finish Group was set up by the Improvement and Review Commission on 21 June 2017.  The terms of reference were agreed by the Task and Finish Group as follows:

To conduct a review of the proposal that the River Wye between Westbourne Street and the Archway roundabout should be re-made and opened up as an amenity within the town.

The draft recommendations of the Task and Finish Group considered by the Commission were as follows:

1.         To recognise that the technical feasibility of remaking the river has been established.

2.         To recognise the extent of support for remaking the river.

3.         To recognise that the wider economic, social and environmental benefits justify the remaking of the river.

4.         To recognise that the financial returns which will accrue directly to Wycombe District Council resulting as a direct consequence of remaking the river will exceed the costs in most scenarios.

5.         To agree that highway works within Phase 7 (Oxford Road) should not be progressed if they prejudice remaking up the river and that it would be most cost effective and publicly acceptable to undertake both the road and the river together.

6.         That it has been established that the remaking of the river between Westbourne Street & Archway Roundabout will cost approximately £3 million more than highway works alone.

7.         To consider funding the works from its CIL & capital programme.

8.         That funding be made available to commission the detailed design, costing and consultation of public realm work including the river for the phase 7 area.

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group thanked Neil Marples, MWH Global, Dan Fenn, DRF, Phil Simpkin, WDC and all the officers involved for their work and support. 

The Commission considered and discussed the recommendations and a number of points were made as follows:

·         The roads around the proposed area for opening the river would be narrowed however access to the Marks and Spencer loading bay would still meet the highway standards.  Due to the town centre Masterplan works there should be less traffic going through the town centre.

·         This was a visionary scheme and fit for the future.  It was suggested that more cyclists and pedestrians would use the town centre in the future.

·         It was commented that the town centre flyover could be a problem and the river should have be included in the Eden shopping centre designs. 

·         It was suggested that recommendation 7 regarding funding should be made clearer and strengthened.

·         The economic benefits to the town were questioned.  In response it was suggested that there could be increased ground rents and property values.  The town centre experience was changing nationally and towns would become more of a leisure destination.  There would be a long term gain to the town centre.

The Chairman of the Commission thanked Councillor McCarthy and the Task and Finish Group for their work.