It’s 2003, so it must be time for the experts to ask us what they would like us done with the town.

I had the misfortune to attend one of the latest ‘consultation’ meetings on Wednesday 9th July 2003.
Colin Garrett brought along his copy of the 1973 ‘consultation’ results and about 30 of us spent the afternoon mainly telling 4 highly paid members of the Borough Council and Consultants what they already knew. Mind  you, the meeting started well by including Bourne End as part of Berkhamsted in their introductory presentation.

May I remind you that this is all part of the Labour Governments idea of democracy.

What you do, is reduce funding to local Councils so they have just enough. You then say ‘if you want more, you have to prove you deserve it’.

So, the Borough have to pay consultants to ask us to tell them what is required, then they go back to some government agency or the other who consider whether or not funding can be given for one or more of the projects suggested. It never occurs to anyone that for the past 30 years the same problems exist and all the money spent asking and preparing ‘bids for funding’ would have got the job done and have money left over.

In case you didn’t know (apparently no-one does!):

We have a traffic/parking problem
We have a rubbish problem
We have under-used attractions called the Canal and a ‘famous’ Castle
Obstacles clutter the footpaths
Young people have little to do
The town is full of commuters.
Pollution is at its worst between about 8:30 and 9:30 in the morning and 3:30 and 5:00 in the afternoon - school days only and in the town centre (you know Castle Street to Kings Road - I can’t think why?)
It is an attractive town which means property is priced out of reach of locals.
More employment is required
More school places are required
No more building should be accepted
The Town Centre doesn’t have a ‘heart’ (being linear, not really surprising)
The old Town Square idea is being pushed for all it’s worth. You ‘compulsory purchase’ the old Waitrose site etc, build a multi-story car park in Water Lane. Perhaps make a decent route through to the moor and Canal Fields by also removing the offices and flats adjacent to the Car Park, tennis courts etc. can stay. In fact, the old post office site could go and why stop there. Knock down the properties on the Water Lane side of Lower Kings Road and produce a Town Centre which meets everyone’s worst fears!

As the Irish say, ‘if I was you, I wouldn’t start from here’.

You have another opportunity to catch up with the latest thinking by either going to the evening meeting in October or visit the http://www.berkhamstedhealthcheck.com web site.