I CAN'T wait until Project Phoenix is implemented. It will be a breath of fresh air for High Wycombe.

I've been living in the town for a year and have spent most of that time waiting for the day I can move away.

There's a lot of High Wycombe bashing that goes on and much criticism is directed towards the town and – in my honest opinion – that's because it's dire, plain and simple.

There are no distinguishing features about High Wycombe that I can think of – such a surprise considering its proximity to places like Oxford, full of life, culture and great bars and clubs for the younger generation.

Many of the Bucks Free Press and Midweek readers have been following our esteemed political editor Margaret Smith’s in-depth coverage of the twists and turns of the Phoenix Project with great anticipation.

And rightly so.

This project will be the birth of High Wycombe as a vibrant and modern town.

As I driver I don’t have to use the rancid bus station and being close to London the only shopping I do in the town is for food.

Luckily I have friends all over the country so have somewhere to go at weekends to largely avoid High Wycombe’s night life which is pretty non existent.

It is strange that this town has so little to offer. If someone were to ask me for an example of a bland English town I would pick High Wycombe without a doubt.

I feel for the students here having so little to do between lectures.

Wycombe’s only saviour will be the Phoenix Project that will make the western sector look like a modern city and the sooner it is done the better.

Then when it is finished we can start work on the rest of High Wycombe.

Our resident ranter Kris Hall is away on his hols for the next month so it gives us the prefect opportunity to launch a brand new competition – Column Idol.

Each week there will be a new rant from one of the Bucks Free Press Midweek reporters and we are inviting you the readers to send us your feedback on what they have said.

The columnist who gets the most feedback will be crowned Column Idol and will have his or her views featured more regularly in your tough-talking Midweek.

We will accept feedback via letters so send in your comments about this or other Straight Talkings to Column Idol, Bucks Free Press, Gomm Road, High Wycombe, HP13 7DW.