IT was a major mistake to shut Wycombe Arts Centre while the site awaits redevelopment.

Now the centre has apparently been ransacked by travellers who were quick to pick up on the fact that it was deserted.

Thousands of pounds of damage has been caused and the building has been left devastated.

Supporters of the centre had argued that it was just as cheap to keep it open before the bulldozers came in as it was to mothball it.

But the county council decided in its wisdom to close the doors and spend the money on security.

Well, those who saw the vandals invade the site over the weekend and cause mayhem will be impressed by the security.

Maybe someone should have told the council that the best way to keep a building safe from mindless vandals is to make sure it is occupied.

If the the centre had been open and full of kids enjoying drama and other activities, I doubt the travellers would have taken the trouble to pitch up.

But an empty piece of land is more than attractive to a convoy of caravans.

Now there is little chance of any short term reprieve for those of us who wanted to see the centre continue for just a while longer and the county council will have to find even more money to clear up the mess left by travellers.

I really fear that the Western Sector plan is doomed after its backers pulled out.

Even now the spin doctors at the district council tell us they are cautiously optimistic about the scheme.

We all hope that this major development will somehow get back on track.

High Wycombe desperately needs the project to work as without it shoppers will continue to haemorrhage from the town.

If the developers MAB have new backers in the wings, they should make an announcement sooner rather than later.

What we do know is that companies are not rushing forward to invest in the retail sector at the moment, which is not looking healthy at all.

If this project does not get going now, we could find there is nobody willing to risk the millions for it to succeed.

Americans are known for taking things at face value, but this story takes the cake.

Nowadays if you ring former county council chairman Ken Ross about council business, you may get an answer message telling you to contact council leader David Shakespeare.

Quite logical, would you not think.

Not apparently for our friends from the great USA.

One caller to Ken got a little confused and left the message that Shakespeare was no longer alive and that they surely did not have phones in the 17th century.

You could not have made it up.