A PLAN to put a bit of life back into shopping in Chesham caused an uproar after a business leader slammed it as crazy.

Angry exchanges came after business leaders criticised an idea to build a canopy in the town's Market Square at a meeting of Chesham's Town Centre Consortium on Wednesday.

Tracy Brown, joint owner of Chessbury Estates, The Broadway, said: "I just think that idea is absolutely crazy. I can't see any point in raising thousands of pounds. It's just not going to happen. The moment you spend thousands of pounds on anything it will get wrecked. That's the sad fact of it."

The Chesham Society wants to create a covered public space for possible stalls, fairs and even musical performances.

The proposed canopy would be based around a wrought iron frame and could be easily dismantled.

The scheme would cost an estimated £100,000.

But Mrs Brown stormed: "We do not have enough police in the town. I watch drug deals going on opposite my office weekly.

"It's a joke. Unless we sort out more police and more cameras to get rid of all these awful people, there's no point in doing this."

Other traders said the canopy could become a new haven for Chesham's so-called "Tenants Lager Brigade" who collect and drink in the High Street and The Broadway.

However, Cllr Pauline Wilkinson (Con, Newtown) was furious the scheme was being written off so quickly.

She said: "No wonder shops are dying on their feet if that's the attitude."

Blaming traders and retailers for failing to club together to fund Chesham's Christmas Lighting, she added: "You won't even raise enough money for a few lights in the town so you are not going to raise it for this are you?"

Maggie Cannon, Chesham's Town Manager, said: "We are trying to bring interesting things into the town. Somebody's got to stick their neck out but people are working to make this town better and we've got to take our hats off to them really."

Other plans to brighten up the High Street include a set of banner columns and archways, costing £4,000, to make Chesham's High Street look more like a shopping centre.