An Olympian has joined the fight against Marlow’s Travelodge plans, warning the council about the “disastrous” health and economic impact the move could have on the town.

Greg Whyte OBE has been a member of the threatened Marlow Club for over a decade, where staff fear the development of the chain hotel opposite would drive the gym out of the area.

And now the world renowned sports scientist has slammed Wycombe District Council for not prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents after it confirmed the hotel plans last month.

He said: “Local government talk a wonderful game about public health and physical activity but they are yet to put their money where their mouth is.

“This isn’t just about physical activity. It is about mental health and social health. A club like this a much more than a sports club it’s a local meeting place.

“It’s cross age, cross gender cross ethnicity. It is the sort of establishment that local government should be focussing on yet they’re going to build a corporate hotel right next to it.”

Wycombe District Council has been in talks with Travelodge for more than two years, and confirmed last month that the Travelodge together with a 111-space car park would be built on the Globe Park Estate – subject to planning permission.

The plans have caused an outcry amongst residents and employees around the estate on Fieldhouse Lane, particularly over the impact it will have on parking.

Mr Whyte said: “We have 3.5K members who are regular visitors of the club on a regular basis – where are they going to go?

“There is a real birth of clubs. We have one or two other places to go to in Marlow. Other than that we are taking people outside of the town which will have an economic impact.

“We have an obesity epidemic and a public health epidemic and an NHS that is broke, yet here we have an establishment that is wholly positive for local people and the local government are willing to give that up for a bit of cash.”

The Marlow Club bosses say the parking situation around Globe Park needs be fixed before any other use of the site is agreed to.

However, WDC has attempted to calm fears, saying it is aware of concerns and hopes an interim surface car park will alleviate current issues, while a multi-storey car park is also being considered as a long term solution.

Spokesman Simon Farr said: “The proposed interim car park is the first step in a wider project by the council and the Globe Park Business Improvement District to regenerate the site in a bid to attract new investors and to improve the parking experience for everyone who visits the business park.

“The interim car park will create approximately 100 spaces once it has been completed and The Marlow Club will have access to temporary parking spaces throughout that construction phase.

“The council is also aware of another landowner with proposals to create a new surface car park, in the short term.

“In the meantime, the council is continuing to explore the business case and site availability for a multi-storey car park at Globe Business Park.”