BOTH the number of new Covid cases and the number of deaths from the infection have fallen in our area this week.
Figures show that by last weekend there were 364 new cases per 100,000 population in Buckinghamshire, compared to 661 per 100k when the infection rate was at its peak on 5 January.
Unconfirmed figures show that in the seven days to yesterday 32 people in the Wycombe/Chiltern/South Bucks area died from Covid compared to 57 the week before. (These are people who tested positive for the virus in the previous 28 days.)
Confirmed figures for our immediate area show that there were 11 new cases in Tylers Green in the seven days to last Saturday compared to 19 in the seven days to 19 January. In the Penn/Holmer Green/Knotty Green area there were 20 new cases compared to 23; and in Hazlemere 13 new cases compared to 20.
New figures for the number of vaccinations carried out in the county are expected later today. People receiving appointments to book at the Wycombe GP centre at Adams Park yesterday were unable to obtain a slot because it was fully-booked. They will be first in line when slots do become available.
Government criticises HS2 for poor communication with communities
THE Government has accepted that HS2 should do more to consult with local communities on the impact of building the high speed railway in the Chilterns.
Councils and environmental groups have accused HS2 and its contractors of failing to keep local communities informed. Earlier this month Buckinghamshire Council officially complained to the Government, saying “despite assurances from HS2 that they will be a ‘good neighbour’ we are not currently experiencing that.”
This week a Government transport minister, Baroness Vere told the House of Lords: “It is accepted that more can be done to ensure that local communities are given ample warning of significant changes in their area and that concerns are dealt with promptly and sensitively.”
She added: “On a project the size of HS2, it is inevitable that problems will arise and contractors will sometimes get things wrong. The Government expects HS2 to resolve matters swiftly.”
Campaigners said the company had swayed from previous agreements about routes of construction lorries; uprooted trees and hedgerows which were not expected to be destroyed and seemed to be responsible for pollution incidents. HS2 has yet to respond.
Wycombe driving centre campaign reaches Parliament
THE controversial decision to close the driving test centre in High Wycombe is to be debated in Parliament next week.
Thousands of people have signed a petition to keep a driving test centre in the town after the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said it was closing down the centre in Wellington Road in March to save money. It means learner drivers in this area would have to take their test in either Slough, Aylesbury or Uxbridge – areas they will be unfamiliar with.
Wycombe MP Steve Baker, who is leading the campaign to keep a test centre in the town, said last night he had secured an adjournment debate in the House of Commons next Thursday.
All yours for a mere eight million…
A CAR that was once a familiar sight on the road around Penn has sold at auction for nearly eight million pounds.
There were only 17 Bugatti Type 57S Atalantes ever made, and in 1937 this one went to Earl Howe, a motor racing enthusiast, who used to drive it at some speed around the roads of his Penn House estate. It fetched £7,855,000 when it came up for sale at a London auction – nearly a million pounds more than anticipated – making it the most expensive car of its type in the world.
The buyer, for now, is unknown.
This blog will be next updated on Monday.