Ten years ago...

PLANS to build up to 450 homes in Henley over the next 15 years have been described as “madness”. The attack was made by the chairman of the parish council in Harpsden, which has been earmarked for 130 houses, at a public meeting on Tuesday. Kester George said: “Can Henley really take the pressure of 450 more houses? Does it make sense to funnel that amount of cars into a medieval street plan? To me it is madness.”

Crime in the Henley area has fallen by 22 per cent over the past year. There was a 12 per cent reduction in the town itself and the overall detection rate improved by almost 10 per cent in the 11 months to the end of February. Insp Mark Harling, head of Henley police, attributed the success to changes in shift patterns, saying more officers were on duty when they were most needed.

Funeral photographer Rachel Wallace is used to awkward silences when people ask about her job. But she says that for every person who disapproves there is another who thinks it is a great idea. “It’s a great dinner party conversation,” she said.