9:36am Monday 17th October 2005
By Dave Peters
A NEW purpose-built stadium for Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and Wasps Rugby Club is being considered after the council identified a potential site at Abbey Barn South.
The sketchy plans were revealed in Wycombe District Council's M40 Gateway A Vision and Options Paper document for 2026.
But it came as a bolt out of the blue to Wanderers' directors who discussed the proposal for the first time at a board meeting on Tuesday.
Blues' managing director Steve Hayes said: "It's good news that the council are being so supportive but we're talking long-term possibles rather than plans."
Wanderers need to increase the capacity of their 10,000-seater Causeway Stadium at Sands to 12,500 by 2007 if they are to keep English rugby champions Wasps as tenants.
The two clubs are in discussion with the council about ways of improving the access to the ground to enable the capacity to be increased. Developing Adams Park remains their preferred option.
Mr Hayes said: "We've got a stadium and we're doing all we can to utilise and improve our facilities."
But he added: "It's always good to have a Plan B and a Plan C."
Blues say the Abbey Barn South proposals, an area off Abbey Barn Lane, High Wycombe, were drawn up without them and Mr Hayes said: "It's forward thinking from the council which is to be applauded. It shows their commitment. Anything is possible but it is way off in time. It's complete speculation."
The council document suggests a new stadium and the relocation of the Wycombe Sports Centre with a park and ride scheme. It is one of four options for the future of the area.
Mr Hayes says he doesn't even know the site which the council has identified and made it clear that if Wanderers were to give it serious thought supporters would be consulted.
He said: "The important thing is our fans. I understand about heritage and I care about what people think. They would be consulted every step of the way."
Fellow director Ian Mather, one of two fans' representatives on the board, said: "It's not something we should rule out, but it's not something we should get excited about at this stage either."
Currently, the council is planning to remove Adams Park from the green belt, which would remove some of the planning constraints and make improving that site easier.
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