10 years ago

A HENLEY town councillor has refused to resign or apologise after blaming the recent floods on the legalisation of gay marriage. David Silvester, 73, has been widely condemned for calling the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act “contrary to the gospel”. The Henley Standard, which published the letter expressing his views, has received many letters in response and a small protest was held outside the town hall on Saturday. An online petition calling for his resignation has more than 12,000 signatures.

A food festival could return to Henley. The Market Square Group wants to stage a three-day event in Market Place and the town hall from August 8 to 10. The company has held Continental markets in Henley since 2010. The last Henley Food Festival took place in 2009, having run for three years before being scrapped due to costs.

A new skate park in Henley is a step closer after a company was chosen to build the facility. The Henley Skate Park Initiative selected Maverick Industries to design and construct the £250,000 project in Makins recreation ground. The Dorset company is considered to be the leader in spray concrete skate park development.