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Air park campaigners welcome stadium proposal
6:29pm Monday 28th July 2008
Comments (61)RESIDENTS have welcomed plans for a new sports stadium - if it means the end for Wycombe Air Park.
Wycombe District Council announced last week that the site in Booker, Marlow, is being considered as a location for a replacement stadium for Adams Park where Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps play.
Householders who live under flight paths from the site are aggrieved at increasingly 'noisy' aircraft.
Lane End resident Susan Pratt, spokeswoman for Wycombe Air Park Action Group, said: "It could be ideally located. I hope that it would mean an end to the air park in favour of a sports village and other facilities that would benefit the whole community."
She said the stadium proposal would now be at the centre of the group's campaign for change:"We'll do anything we can to support Wycombe District Council to find an alternative to the site."
Peter Jennings, of Finings Road, Lane End said: " As far as I'm concerned I would sooner have a football club than an air park. I don't think the football would be disruptive, it's only every two weeks."
Richard Wetenhall, 46, of Church Road, Lane End, said: "If both are located there then there will be even more congestion and I would worry about road access.
"However, if some kind of sensible, balanced solution could be found it has to be a good overall for Wycombe."
WDC leader Lesley Clarke said the council was unable to give say at this stage whether the move would spell the end for the Air Park.
WDC Spokeswoman Becky Wotherspoon said: "London Wasps, Wycombe Wanderers and Wycombe District Council have agreed to work together on a six-month feasibility study of the Air Park site.
"This study will involve looking at the practicalities of continued Air Park operations alongside a new stadium, access issues and how any scheme could be funded.
She added: "We would like to stress that we are at a very early stage in this process and our first step will be to carry out a feasibility study of the site."
There will be a budget of £250,000 for the first stage of the project.
Tim Orchard, managing director of the air park, said he knew no more about the proposal than what was in the council's statement.
Fans of the two teams have reacted positively to the suggested location.
Wanderers supporter Richard Vere, 21, an Essex University student from Marlow said: " I think it's good to move away from Adams Park because parking is a nightmare, especially when the weather is bad.
"The air park has got better access roads and is closer to the motorway."
Wycombe Wanderers Supporters Trust said it did not want to comment until more details were released.
Wasps season-ticket holder David White said: "It's good news. Clearly, Wasps are the champion team of Europe and it's ridiculous they are playing at a stadium with such a small capacity - it's simple economics."
Your Say YourBucks
wayne, wycombe says...
7:01pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Ivor, says...
7:07pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Read my latest blog to find out what happened on my recent rip to the Air Park. Click on the Opinion link on the menu on the left then click on Readers Blogs.
George - Wycombe, says...
8:18pm Mon 28 Jul 08
George - Wycombe, says...
8:23pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
8:27pm Mon 28 Jul 08
George - Wycombe wrote:Oh I do so hope that happens.
Football and Rugby would mean 3 or 4 games a fortnight plus other function, that AND retaining the Air Park is a right winner for the action group.
Plus ça change..., Flightpathcombe says...
8:34pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Most also seemed pro finding a better home for the soccer and rugger teams, some at the park, some nearer to the Handy Cross area.
I too am not sure what your first bold, capitalised word 'RESIDENTS' actually means, in terms of percentage.
AJHW, High Wycombe says...
9:47pm Mon 28 Jul 08
odbyt, High Wycombe says...
10:10pm Mon 28 Jul 08
If these plans get the go ahead I feel for the people that live in Claymoor and Clayhill, Booker common and Holmers Farm. These are the local residents that should be consulted more on these plans and not those that live in Lane End and Frieth etc.
Leave the airfield alone. It has been there for 70 years and has been an asset to the town and stops civil jets flying at low level over the town causing more noise pollution than you can imagine.
Ivor, says...
10:25pm Mon 28 Jul 08
odbyt, High Wycombe on 10:10pm:After careful thought on the subject I am beginning to agree with you.
Leave the airfield alone. It has been there for 70 years and has been an asset to the town and stops civil jets flying at low level over the town causing more noise pollution than you can imagine.
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
11:06pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Ivor wrote:Careful thought?! This can't be an authentic Ivor post.
odbyt, High Wycombe on 10:10pm:After careful thought on the subject I am beginning to agree with you.
Leave the airfield alone. It has been there for 70 years and has been an asset to the town and stops civil jets flying at low level over the town causing more noise pollution than you can imagine.
Ivor, says...
11:21pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Spitfire wrote:I can confirm this is a genuine post and I am beginning to think the aerodrome (no matter how much aggravation it has caused me) should stay as it does serve a useful purpose as odbyt has pointed out.
Ivor wrote:Careful thought?! This can't be an authentic Ivor post.odbyt, High Wycombe on 10:10pm: Leave the airfield alone. It has been there for 70 years and has been an asset to the town and stops civil jets flying at low level over the town causing more noise pollution than you can imagine.After careful thought on the subject I am beginning to agree with you.
I shall see how things develop and may even start a campaign to save the aerodrome.
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
11:28pm Mon 28 Jul 08
You are an **** and it baffles me why you have a voice on this allegedly serious newspaper website.
Ivor, says...
11:34pm Mon 28 Jul 08
You may be lucky that I do have a blog on this site after all if the airfield is under threat surely every little bit of support that can be mustered will be needed to save it?
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
11:36pm Mon 28 Jul 08
Franky, High Wycombe says...
11:49pm Mon 28 Jul 08
smokey, high wycombe says...
7:03am Tue 29 Jul 08
Ivor wrote:YOU start a campaign!!
Spitfire wrote:I can confirm this is a genuine post and I am beginning to think the aerodrome (no matter how much aggravation it has caused me) should stay as it does serve a useful purpose as odbyt has pointed out. I shall see how things develop and may even start a campaign to save the aerodrome.Ivor wrote:Careful thought?! This can't be an authentic Ivor post.odbyt, High Wycombe on 10:10pm: Leave the airfield alone. It has been there for 70 years and has been an asset to the town and stops civil jets flying at low level over the town causing more noise pollution than you can imagine.After careful thought on the subject I am beginning to agree with you.
Don't make me laugh. You are a coward that hides behind his keyboard and the only reason that you have backed down on this one is cos you know that you have made a prat of yourself and you are wrong.
Merge in Turn, says...
9:18am Tue 29 Jul 08
yabbadabbadoo, wooburn green says...
9:20am Tue 29 Jul 08
(tho sometimes we forget and caught up in it!!) but i wander how long it will be before the "anti airfield brigade" will start the "anti stadium protest" when they realise the bloody chaos it causes !
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
9:33am Tue 29 Jul 08
Sparky, Booker says...
10:25am Tue 29 Jul 08
Wycombe Live, Shop, Work, High Wycombe says...
11:10am Tue 29 Jul 08
Wycombe Live, Shop, Work, High Wycombe says...
11:36am Tue 29 Jul 08
MikeyPikey, High Wycombe says...
11:49am Tue 29 Jul 08
Spitfire, High Wycombe says...
12:07pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Wycombe Live, Shop, Work wrote:While a nice idea I think the council might want to encourage some away supporters (or far travelling Wasps supporters) to come into Wycombe centre just for a little bit.
Can I also request that they build a dedicated sliproads on and off the M40, in both directions, for the away supporters? Then the local roads would only need to cope with local traffic.
acjy1985, high wycombe says...
12:18pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
12:28pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Spitfire wrote:Bang on, any developement should also be a boon to other local industries. The rugby runs a free shuttle bus from the station to the ground and a couple of the town centre pubs do get some extra trade on the day.
Wycombe Live, Shop, Work wrote: Can I also request that they build a dedicated sliproads on and off the M40, in both directions, for the away supporters? Then the local roads would only need to cope with local traffic.While a nice idea I think the council might want to encourage some away supporters (or far travelling Wasps supporters) to come into Wycombe centre just for a little bit.
If Wasps commit to this they will become our team, not just a long term tenant, and the whole town should embrase them as they are one of the most successful European teams since the professional era began. So lets get some hardcore Wycombe based Wasps support going on.
Drinks anyone?
Lib/Lab Watch, Watching Left Wing Nutters says...
12:28pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Tharus Bond, Wycombe says...
12:59pm Tue 29 Jul 08
I live near the Flackwell Heath football ground and everytime their is a game our road turns into a car park and some nights the bus has trouble getting through!
Their fixtures board says they have ample parking! that is our road.
Maybe wanderers should build it on the training ground instead.
Ivor, says...
2:09pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Lib/Lab Watch wrote:No. Mr Pratt is the person from the powers that be who came up with the silly idea that has put the future of the Air Park in jeopardy and is looking at the feasibility of building a stadium for Wycombe Wanderers in Marlow wasting £250,000 in the process!
I thought that 'Mr Pratt' was the spokesperson for this Action group?...
Have you seen Ivors blog today? Click on the Opinion link on the menu on the left then click on Readers Blogs.
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
2:15pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Ivor, says...
2:17pm Tue 29 Jul 08
At least I'm facing in the right direction....
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
2:21pm Tue 29 Jul 08
This is outrageous! The planes are nothing but a nuisance and should be stopped.
The Air Park should be closed and the land used for a new football ground or for houses.
Not entirely sure how you expect to gain any additional respect for your opinion after such a dramatic swing in direction. I mean, it's not as if your word carries that much weight around here as it is.
tom, marlow says...
2:24pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Ivor wrote
....and is looking at the feasibility of building a stadium for Wycombe Wanderers in Marlow wasting £250,000 in the process!
Booker is not in Marlow, its best part of 2 miles away. Postcodes are for the convenience of the royal mail delivery system, they were never intended as a basis for making confusing comments about where a foorball ground should or shouldn't be.
We have our own issues about football ground redevelopment.
Ivor, says...
2:28pm Tue 29 Jul 08
I should have known better than to be swallowed in by a proposal from one of the powers that be.
Save the airfield!
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
2:30pm Tue 29 Jul 08
...you should've worked for Blair.
wayne, wycombe says...
3:26pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Incidentally, Land Registry documents show that Susan Pratt has only lived at Spring Coppice (nr Lane End) since 1993, so they knew full well that there was an airfield all but a field away.
wayne, wycombe says...
3:29pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Incidentally, Land Registry documents show that Susan Pratt has only lived at Spring Coppice (nr Lane End) since 1993, so they knew full well that there was an airfield all but a field away.
Sparky, Booker says...
3:35pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Sparky, Booker says...
3:36pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
3:41pm Tue 29 Jul 08
smokey, high wycombe says...
3:50pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Elmo wrote:which just goes to show what a complete numpty he is. He just likes to argue for arguement sake and wind people up.
...and so the u-turn is complete.
Well done Mr Cohen - your baa lamb is doing a grand job.
Wycombe Live, Shop, Work, High Wycombe says...
3:57pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Wycombe Air Park, Marlow, Buckinghamshire, SL7 3DP
manuiabeach, High Wycombe says...
4:53pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Ask them.
In the interest of freedom of information, please cost!
acjy1985, high wycombe says...
4:57pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
5:03pm Tue 29 Jul 08
mike h, cressex says...
5:12pm Tue 29 Jul 08
Elmo, High Wycombe says...
5:13pm Tue 29 Jul 08
manuiabeach wrote:The only bit of development needed to bring Adams Park up to snuff for the Rugby was the addition of plastic reinforcement to the pitch. I understand this was paid for by QPR (Fulham FC?) as part of the deal to move Wasps out of Loftus Road in the first place. There has been some temporary structures put in place, i.e. the drinks tent, which actually was to save costs, as was the new on-site shop as the Eden development meant the closure of the town centre shop.
Do Wycombe ratepayers want to pay for another 6 month feasability study, since they have been contributing for so many years to the development, expansion and control of Adams Park partially for a non-resident sports team???? Ask them. In the interest of freedom of information, please cost!
As for the non-resident sports team, they have been here for 5 years now, have even moved their reserve team games to Henley (a cracking evening out, btw) and are looking to commit to a permanent move to the new stadium.
I would suggest that they should soon no longer be seen as non-resident, rather an integral and very successful part of this town.
matthewjohn, highwycombe says...
9:43pm Tue 29 Jul 08
!!!!!!!
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matthewjohn, highwycombe says...
9:43pm Tue 29 Jul 08
!!!!!!!
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mr blobbly, says...
8:41pm Thu 31 Jul 08
wayne, wycombe says...
11:43pm Thu 31 Jul 08
sr, says...
12:12pm Fri 1 Aug 08
redkite, Newmer Common says...
4:48pm Fri 1 Aug 08
The Company which runs Wycombe Air Park pays a peppercorn rent of less than £45,000 per annum. This for a site that is potentially worth in the order of £200,000,000. Yes £200 million. Whether you live near the air park or not, Whether you love the aircraft or not, you the rate payer are currently subsidising the relatively small amount of people who fly at the air park, and most of them are from out of town.
I for one do not like subsidising these people. Either the air park pay the going rate for such a sight or the council should find someone else who is willing to pay.
The figure should be considerable more than it currently is.
The council need to have an independent survey done at the air park to acertain its market value. The operater of the air park should then pay this figure or get out and let someone else who is willing to pay, move in. I think you will find that the current operater is unwilling to pay a figure much more than the current fiure of £45,000 per annum. I think if you ask, Wasps would be willing to pay a figure more in keeping with the value of the site.
Its not about Planes, it's not about Rugby, it's about Money and who is willing to pay the market value.
wayne, wycombe says...
12:52am Sat 2 Aug 08
You also misrepresent the facts, the £45000 you mention is a rent,you have conveniently not incorporated the lease amount into your vastly inflated figures.
if you don't like the noise, why the hell did you move here? I wonder whether we could start a campaign against the nuisance neighbours who move into the area, only then to try and change peoples' way of life because it does not fit in with their own.
If you don't like it, there's two words that would be appropriate to use but which are likely to be filtered.
Lastly, please enlighten us how you quantify your statement that most who use the airfield are from outside the area?
redkite, Newmer Common says...
11:30am Sat 2 Aug 08
AAA Ltd the Lessee of the Council Ground on which ther airpark stands pays a total figure for the site to WDC of less than £45,000 per annum.
If you do not believe me,ask the council and they will tell you. I can assure you that the figure is correct.I got it from the coucil under thge Freedom of Information Act.
You must be the only rate payer prepaired to subsidise the activities at Booker.
wayne, wycombe says...
2:33pm Sat 2 Aug 08
Please reconcile the following question with a YES or NO answer, does the LESSEE pay for using the airfield? simple question that a 5 year old could answer.
Lastly,your argument is a biased generalisation that attempts to mask your true agenda of seeing the airfield close.
As for I "must be the only 'rate payer',prepaired to subsidise the activities at Booker", again, you make a hasty generalisation and an appeal to belief by loading a statement with YOUR keyword, 'subsidise'; it is rather mischievous but telling as to why you do this.
Maybe I am subsidising the oxygen with which you breath by planting trees in my Garden, you are likely to be subsidised by a high rate taxpayer who pays more Council tax than you do, shall I ask that you be wiped off of the face of the earth as a result? No, like your reasoning, it would be both a ridiculous and fallacious argument.
GJW, High Wycombe says...
9:19am Sun 3 Aug 08
What will happen to the Adams Park facility if the proposal goes ahead? Will it be retained for the benefit of the local community or will it be an excuse for an inappropriate development within the Greenbelt?
Any answers from those putting forward these proposals?
wayne, wycombe says...
10:34am Sun 3 Aug 08
Has anyone given a thought to what impact this proposal will have on the flight training organistaions and the people employed by themquote
I guess that's why the Council are spending £250,000 of our money to find out GJW; unfortunately, like the moron who moved next to a pub in Lane End then complains about the noise; the airfield has its own share of people who move nearby, then complain about it.
angie, Booker says...
6:51pm Thu 7 Aug 08
all this area is a quiet rural area and should remain so. As for aircraft noise, which I might add is minimal is a damm site better than hundreds of football fans shouting and screaming. it would be nice if the people whose lives are to be disrupted were consulted prior to plans. we already have to contend with horrible smells comeing from recycling centre and noise from heavy lorries going to the tip so what else do we have to put up with!!! people who don't live on the doorstep of the air park should consider how the would feel if this stadium was oppisite their homes, I am sure they would have a different opinion then.
PLEASE LEAVE WYCOMBE AIR PARK AS IT IS AND DONT DESTROY MORE OF WHAT LITTLE COUNTRYSIDE WE HAVE!!!
GJW, High Wycombe says...
9:06am Sun 10 Aug 08
Money makes the World go round, so it is said, but we are getting into a hopeless situation if money rules the World. Listen to people like Angie who posted the previous comment, she lives close to the airfield and does not have a problem with it as I suspect is the case generally. There are always a very few in every community that take it upon themselves to campaign for change, when the benefit is only to themselves.
I support Angie's comment - PLEASE LEAVE WYCOMBE AIR PARK AS IT IS AND DONT DESTROY MORE OF WHAT LITTLE COUNTRYSIDE WE HAVE!!!
Ivor, says...
7:01pm Mon 28 Jul 08
It will be a shame to see it go but the panes have caused such a noise nuisance over the years.
Read my latest blog to find out what happened on my recent trip to the Air Park. Click on the Opinion link on the menu on the left then click on Readers Blogs.