A PENSIONER has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown opposing council moves to put cash into a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps.

Rex Pawley, 82, says ‘there must be something in the system that protects council taxpayers’ money’.

Cash-strapped Wycombe District Council has agreed in principle to invest in the plan to move Adams Park to a new location, mooted to be Wycombe Air Park in Booker.

Bosses fear Wasps – which draw bigger crowds – will leave the town unless a new home is found.

The authority says the spending would be an ‘investment’ and return cash to it along with Wanderers and Wasps.

It has come under fire for closing Holywell Mead outdoor swimming pool, selling nearby Bassetsbury Manor, shutting toilets and axing jobs.

Mr Pawley, who was in the Royal Navy, writes: “This Conservative council has made a meal out of this recession, lack of funding from the chancellor and your Government.

“It’s been an excuse to sell off our assets and cut funding to fund a new stadium.”

He says: “Would the same councillors take the risk of building this new stadium themselves, using their own homes as collateral? No they would not sir. Why risk ours?”

And the Chestnut Lane, Hazlemere resident asks: “What authority controls councils that won’t listen to their own electorate?

“Please sir, find an answer to stop these people in office.”

The former print machine manager enclosed cuttings from The Bucks Free Press detailing the controversy.

Today council leader Councillor Lesley Clarke told The Bucks Free Press: “If you want to do things you have invest to save.”

Discussions have mostly taken place behind closed doors at WDC with the press and public excluded under local government laws.

However, councillors will today meet in public to discuss the next steps.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve works to ‘identify a site and planning framework for a new stadium’.

This will involve changing its current overall planning strategy, called a ‘core strategy alteration’.

A total £500,000 has been earmarked for this, as previously reported, and will include employing a temporary planning project officer and hearings, consultation and publications.

Cllr Clarke said the clubs are contributing to this fund but declined to say how much.

A report says the teams ‘share a constrained site which limits the scope of both clubs’ ambitions and does not reflect their potential contribution to the district’s profile, economy or community’.

It says ‘all potential sites need to be considered, including those that currently lie within the Green Belt’.

The cabinet will meet at 4.30pm at WDC's offices in Queen Victoria Road. The public are welcome to attend.

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