IT'S so refreshing to see someone in politics speak common sense.

We have to put up with waffle on many an occasion but Labour county councillor Julia Wassell really impressed when she showed how Spring Gardens Arts Centre, in High Wycombe, could be given a stay of execution.

Apparently it's cheaper to keep it open than to leave it rotting while the site waits for redevelopment as you don't have to spend tons of cash on security to prevent attacks by vandals.

County bosses are now looking at keeping it running for another year.

I would expect them to come up with a positive answer without too much thought.

The fact that the arts centre is going is an absolute travesty in the first place.

It was a brilliant place for youngsters looking to practise the skills that one day might see their names up in lights.

Wycombe will be a much more soulless place when it's concreted over and probably replaced by houses.

Councillors are being asked to consider a new centre as part of any development there.

Whether it goes ahead there or somewhere else, Wycombe needs a focal point for the arts community.

Town planners should have taken the time to think of a new location before the money to the centre was cut off.

If the Western sector development ever gets off the ground, which is looking more and more unlikely, the first thing that should happen is that a bigwig at the council should make a spot for a new arts centre, probably in the proposed library.

What a tragedy if talent in this district is stifled because of a lack of foresight by those in charge.

Remember these are the same people who would milk the publicity if someone from the district made it to national prominence.

WELL done to the biggest surgery in the county for taking a stand over the pressures put on GPs.

The Doctors' House surgery in Marlow decided to close its doors for a day as part of a national protest against the growing bureaucratic and administrative demands put on GPs.

Despite condemnation from some politicians, the decision was in touch with public feeling.

Hundreds of doctors are retiring early as they can longer face being in a profession that is understaffed, and is given inadequate budgets.

Successive governments' attitudes have led to a situation where doctors are now becoming more and more like pharmacists simply giving out a bottle of pills because they don't have enough time with their patients to get to the route of the problem.

This can't be allowed to go on.