More details have emerged after a £1.5 million running track in Little Marlow was taken over by a private firm, after it was deemed “too expensive” to run by a charity 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.

ALF’s CEO Amanda Foister told the Marlow Free Press the “last straw” came when the track surface failed “after just three years of use”.

She said: “It got too expensive to run because it was built so badly and things kept breaking and failing.

“[When the track failed] at that point we had to say we couldn’t run it anymore.

“We are a charity and they [Serco] are a much bigger company – they can afford to take on the huge losses.

“I think WDC were let down by their contractor who did a very bad job of it. It’s very disappointing.

“They are left with something that is not fit for purpose.

“It’s such a beautiful facility and it could be amazing.”

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.

A member of the public who contacted the Free Press and did not want to be named, said she was worried athletes from Bucks would no longer be able to use the track after Serco, which looks after Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre on behalf of Sport England, takes over, fearing it could become an “elite athlete facility”.

But WDC, which confirmed More Leisure Community Trust had been awarded a three-year management contract for the Wycombe District Athletics Complex, said access to the facility will “remain unchanged” and “it remains fully available to individuals and to clubs”.

Valerie Brownridge, chairman of the Little Marlow Parish Council, welcomed the change, saying it was a “step in the right direction”.

She said: “We think it’s a really good thing, a positive thing.

“It hasn’t been operating at its best.

“We have always hoped for the local community to use it more.

“At the moment he track is used by athletes and running groups but it would be lovely if more local people would use it.

“For a large part of the day it is not being used, which is such a shame.”

WDC spokesman Shauna Hichens said: “We are delighted to be working with the dedicated leisure section of Serco, More Leisure Community Trust, who have extensive experience of leisure facility management, including the national centre of excellence at Bisham Abbey and Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

“Part of the contract includes routine maintenance and cleaning.

“The build of the track was fully satisfactory and it continues to meet UK Athletics Class One requirements.

“Currently it urgently needs a good clean, and a specialist company is being called in to do this.”

Serco spokesman Alan Mitchell said: “At this stage, the More Community Leisure Trust are only the ‘preferred bidder’ for the contract to run the Little Marlow Running Track.

“We are hoping to sign contracts in due course and assume control of the facility.”