A PENSIONER who wrote to Gordon Brown opposing council moves to put money into a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps has been told that the Government cannot get involved at this stage.

Rex Pawley, 82, of Chestnut Lane, Hazlemere, wrote to Downing Street to say “there must be something in the system that protects council taxpayers’ money”.

But he has now been told in a reply from one of the Prime Minister’s officials: “Ultimately, local authorities are responsible to their electorate, not to the Secretary of State...”

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 – although WDC has said “there is no preferred site at this stage”.

WDC has set aside up to £750,000 for studies into the plan’s viability and Steve Hayes, owner of both clubs, is putting in another £250,000.

The authority said the investment would involve “no direct impact on the council tax”.

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

Mr Pawley, who was in the Royal Navy, wrote to the PM saying: “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?”

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

His message was passed on to The Government Office for The South East, which deals with planning issues on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Official Nicole Eakins said although the Secretary of State has powers to call in individual applications for his own determination, he does not have a role in police the statutory procedures – which is a matter for the courts.

He also does not oversee the way local authorities carry out planning control duties internally or comment on specific locations in case they come before him in the future.

She added: “Ultimately, local authorities are responsible to their electorate, not to the Secretary of State, for their conduct in the discharge of their particular planning functions.”

Comments on the proposals are best made at the time of the consultation – expected to be in October or November – she advised.

Former High Wycombe Mayor Cllr Paul Lambourne launched a passionate defence of the project in a letter to the Free Press last week.

He said: “It will provide both clubs with a sustainable future, and help expand the excellent work they are both already doing within the community, thus being able to encourage even more of our young people to participate in sport.”

He compared the council’s plan to the schemes that led to the creation of Wycombe Swan and Eden.