A £1.5 million running track in Little Marlow has been taken over by a private firm after it became “too expensive” to run as a result of being “badly built”.

The More Leisure Community Trust, part of Serco, has taken over the running of the athletics track, in Westhorpe Lane, on behalf of Wycombe District Council after the Adventure Learning Foundation (ALF) said it could not go on looking after it, after a number of things “failed and broke” over time including the running track surface.

Wycombe District Council (WDC) wanted to relocate the track, previously based at the former Wycombe Sports Centre, to make way for what is now the Handy X Hub.

A proposed running track in Hazlemere was turned down in March 2010, forcing WDC to look at other options and settle on the Little Marlow site.

The plans were initially met with resistance from Little Marlow residents who branded it a “badly thought out, rushed proposal” after WDC exhibited proposals for it to be built adjacent to Westhorpe Farm.

Serco has been contacted for comment.