LEISURE bosses have revealed a package of plans for The Rye, High Wycombe, which could see cricket and American footballers staging matches on the much-loved green space.

Wycombe District Council's proposals are part of The Rye and Holywell Mead plan.

The council hopes the plan will help to co-ordinate leisure activities on the 44,000 square metre area.

The plan also designates The Rye, already a Conservation Area, a Local Landscape Area and a Park and Garden of Historic Interest, as a Green Space area.

The council hoped that this will help it safeguard the area for future generations to enjoy.

James Porter, of Wycombe District Council's leisure department, said the alteration would make The Rye accessible to more people with different interests.

He added: "We are extending the viability of using a wider cross-section of the community using The Rye.

"If there were calls for American Football to be played there, we would look at it and try to accommodate it."

Many residents have criticised the plans, saying they will spoil The Rye.

Paula Ing, 57, of Rosebery Avenue, High Wycombe, said she was concerned about cricketers and other sportsmen using The Rye.

She said: "A cricket match takes up a vast area of space and it will be unsafe for anybody to use that area. There are a lot of dangers as well in a cricket match."

The council's community and leisure committee will discuss the plans at a meeting to be held on June 8.

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