MARLOW residents should be aware that Bucks County and Wycombe District Councils are proposing to spend around £2,000,000 on works detailed in the Marlow Parking and Transportation Strategy. We had only until the end of January to return questionnaires on which to lodge our comments about the scheme. The forms were available from the Marlow Area Information Office in High Street.

The main thrust of this strategy is to turn cars away from Marlow. I believe that this approach is entirely wrong. Marlow welcomes cars and the business which their users bring. I understand that the Marlow Society also takes this view.

Mainly what is needed is a keener application of the existing parking regulations and perhaps some changes to favour short term callers as against long term stayers. This could be achieved very simply by having full-time traffic warden attendance. However, the authorities prefer to spend £2,000,000 of our money tackling a lot of non-existent problems.

The whole package is a very expensive product of the anti-car dogma so obvious in High Wycombe, with its parking restrictions and car park tariffs much higher than adjoining areas.

It is not surprising that High Wycombe is about to launch a scheme to encourage back to the town shoppers who have deserted it.

The clammy hands of the planners will in short order ruin the splendid character of our town, which has taken centuries to mature.

Marlow must be allowed to retain its "buzz" and remain car and shopper friendly for its continuing prosperity.

P G Kerry

Langley Way

Marlow