'Scrap grand idea for barn meadow'

The toy retailer, who heads The Entertainer Group, believes the emphasis should be put on helping the Amersham 61 Youth Club to gain new premises.

But Mr Grant is against what he feels is the grand scheme currently on the table, which would seek to incorporate new council offices and a community hall with disabled access for about 120 people.

The town council is currently in the midst of a consultation exercise on the idea and will debate the next steps at its meeting on July 28.

Proponents of the scheme, including town mayor, Councillor Martin King, believe the Barn Meadow Project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring together several much-cherished projects under one roof. But Mr Grant disagrees.

"To take what is currently a relatively small building and extend it by building a second hall for use by the community, and to build a headquarters for the town Council, is almost a step too far," he said.

"It seems obvious to me that the town council is using the youth club and the integration of state-of-the-art changing facilities as a cover to justify unnecessary expansion plans."

But Mr King hit back, saying: "Gary is a wonderful man and a greater supporter of youth in the area, but I am disappointed he did not speak to the council before making his views public."

The mayor said the council would be funding the scheme, and that it had been motivated by the 'practical good sense' of uniting the entire community.

Mr Grant said he supported the aims of Amersham 61 Youth Club to build a new headquarters on Barn Meadow. He stressed that there is widespread support for the youth club but that their needs could be achieved by bringing together the community in Old Amersham.

Mr Grant believes the current Barn Meadow vision should be scrapped.

"Town councillors should stop pushing water uphill, and I look forward to hearing that the scheme has been scrapped," he said.

The Barn Meadow Project, if it proceeds in its current form, would encompass changing
facilities for cricketers and footballers, a new headquarters for the youth club, a community hall and space for council offices.