It is understand that some residents have concerns about the proposals for Witchell.

A fairly in depth study was undertaken with Bucks County Council approximately 2 years ago on the proposal to move the office into the Library.  This proposal included filling in the front area to supply another community room.  The cost was quoted to be in the region of £350k.  A figure that the Parish Council could not aim to achieve and BCC advising that, apart from possibly being able to get £100k for the supply of a 'teaching room', it would still leave a figure of £250k to be raised.  The size of the Parish Council office was two rooms of approximately 4m x 4m.  Something that must be born in mind is that the Parish Council are not empowered to spend grant given, or precepted money on renovating buildings owned and managed by Bucks County Council, so that is out of the equation.

Any new ideas, say the lease for the Library is given to the Parish Council for a nominal sum, would mean that the 'on costs' (water, electricity, rates etc.) would be in the region of £25k per annum and would have to be covered by the Parish Council. The rental figure of the room would only cover about half of that amount.  To be able to take on any building like that (size/age/flat roof) would mean that the Parish Council would have to have money in reserves for any repairs/renovations, (which they do not have) unless BCC offered a full repairing lease.  Ultimately the minimum funding that the Parish Council would have to raise through the precept (rates) would be £25k.

When it comes down to the bottom line, Bucks CC has made no approach to Wendover Parish Council with any ideas or offers. All that is floating around the town is supposition and personal comment without any solid foundation or fact presented to the Parish Council (nothing!).

The other option came about as AVDC have had money ear marked for additional parking in Wendover.  Unfortunately, following negotiations for an area that they were hoping to buy/lease, the owner pulled out of the deal.  This money is not likely to be held by the new District Council in May and will go back into a general pot and Wendover will not get any extended, or renovated parking facilities.  This is a real threat for the shop keepers and businesses of the town.

In exchange for a lease on the current car park on Witchell, AVDC are prepared to give Wendover Parish Council the matched sum of funds donated by the builders of the Princess Mary Site.  This is known as S106 funding.  It is stipulated in legal documentation, that this money can only be used for recreational and sporting subsidies.  The final figures are still being negotiated as Halton Parish Council has a right to part of these funds too.  AVDC has pledged to match the S106 monies, which are £143k in total, but Halton are bidding for £30k.  So, quick math here, the minimum that Wendover Parish Council can get for this deal will be £226k.

The plan is for this money to be used to create a leisure/community room, with toilets and kitchen facilities, to be placed in the very corner of the 'scrubby' area at the back of the car park.  For security and management of the facility, it would also be easy to put in an office that could be used as a Parish Council office.  The Cricket Club currently has no kitchen facilities, and they could also use the kitchen for their events.  The room would be hired out to groups with priority going to those themed on fitness (yoga, zumba, ballet) from all of those mentioned have already approached us expressing their interest.

As explained the snapshot is currently being updated when we have new information.  I am sure that the members would all be interested in your comments now that you have more information.