POTENTIAL locations for a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps might not be ‘sensible’ a council boss said after criticism that it named totally unsuitable places.

Council chief Jerry Unsworth spoke after Wycombe District Council published 19 possible sites for a new home for Adams Park set to take up to 20,000 seats.

This included Marlow Gravel Pits – where plans for a 264 seat ground for Marlow FC were rejected – and a site near to Morrison’s in High Wycombe town centre.

Bosses hope to narrow the list down further (see bottom of story for full list) for the project, set to include other sporting and conferencing facilities. But all will be consulted on.

It comes as club owner Steve Hayes welcomed the move by the council, which is set to study the need for the stadium with a ‘community needs and benefits assessment’ (see later).

And a £50m price tag has been put on the project.

Mr Unsworth, WDC’s head of planning, said their inclusion on the list ‘doesn’t mean they are deliverable or sensible’.

He said: “We are not suggesting they are sensible sites. That is what the evaluation will do, it will pull out their merits and de-merits.

“We have to demonstrate at the end of the process that we have properly looked at all reasonable options.”

Sites have been included as they meet criteria that includes being in or close to a built up area and not being in the protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The authority rejected a plan for a 264 ground for Marlow Football Club last year.

Club director Ray Frith said the plan “would be a smack in the face” if it was seriously considered.

He said: “If it were planned that Wycombe Wanderers or a big sports club was located there we would be absolutely horrified and really annoyed because that's what we have been doing for the last ten years.”

And Mike Overall, who headed a campaign group against the Marlow FC plan, said: “I'm appalled to think they can even suggest it after all those decisions.

“I think the council have gone nuts to even suggest it following the rejection.”

Mr Overall, chairman of The Chiltern Society conservation group, said: “I’m amazed they would consult on such a wide range.

“It does seem to look like the thing hasn’t been very well thought through.”

Yet WDC’s Mr Unsworth said: “It has been rejected for Marlow Football Club but maybe that case for Marlow Football Club wasn’t good enough.”

Other potential sites include the Baker Street car park to the west of High Wycombe town centre and Terriers Farm, off the Amersham Road, where homes plans have been rejected.

The former Compair factory site off Hughenden Road, by Morrison’s, is also listed, though Mr Unsworth said he doubted this was a strong contender.

Many say the council is only keen on Wycombe Air Park as a site as it has commissioned studies into its potential use.

Yet Councillor Jean Teesdale, cabinet member for planning and sustainability, said it was ‘rubbish’ to suggest the other sites were named to give a false impression that a choice was available.

She said: “We still need to hear from people. We are here for that reason, to represent peoples’ views.”

The club has said there are access problems with the Sands ground, which one entrance and exit, and it needs to be seat more for Wasps games.

It says the move would open up facilities to the public and allow it to enhance its youth programmes and increase profits from better conference facilities.

Cllr Teesdale, cabinet member for planning, said its problems justified hers and the council’s concerns from the late 1980s when WDC opposed the building of Adams Park.

She said: “It is always a dangerous thing when you haven’t got access.”

Officers said the new project was likely to cost £50m but said it was too early to be specific on how it would be funded.

The authority has angered some for earmarking £750,000 for studies in the plans and to go through a process to change its plans for the district to allow a stadium.

Steve Hayes, who owns the clubs, is contributing £250,000.

Some argue the authority should not be preparing plans that would benefit a private business.

The council has said the clubs are ‘not currently financially viable concerns’.

Selling land, council or private, is amongst the options for funding. This could, for example, see homes built on the Booker air park, with the developer contributing to the stadium.

Steve Hayes, who owns the clubs, last night released this statement: “Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps are ambitious clubs looking to achieve more and to build a successful and sustainable future in High Wycombe.

“We are delighted to see the benefits of the proposed new community stadium and associated sports facilities recognised within Wycombe District Council’s ‘Initial Community Needs and Benefits’ study.

“Our partnership with the local authority, as announced in March, is based on working in a positive spirit of collaboration and in the interests of bringing forward our shared and exciting vision for the future of the clubs in Wycombe district.

“We believe that providing a new community stadium and associated sports development in Wycombe is an excellent and important step for the future of both clubs.

“It is something we are committed to for the benefit of our players, staff, supporters and the community in which we operate.

“We are delighted to see the far wider benefit of the scheme to the social and economic well being of the district recognised.

“Delivering our vision for the new stadium and related sports facilities is something we intend to do properly and in full consultation with the local authority, our supporters and all of the people who can help us to build an even more successful future.”

The sites listed by the council:

1. M40 Gateway West (Cressex Island).

2. Abbey Barn South.

3. Abbey Barn South and land East of Abbey Barn Lane.

4. Abbey Barn South and RAF Daws Hill.

5. RAF Daws Hill.

6. Town Centre West (Baker Street).

7. Former Compair Site.

8. Adams Park Stadium & adjoining land.

9. Wycombe Air Park 10. M40 Gateway East (Handy Cross).

11. Marlow Gravel Pits.

12. Terriers Farm.

13. Gomm Valley.

14. Abbey Barn North.

15. Slate Meadow.

16. Park Mill Farm.

17. Land North of Longwick Road.

18. Land off Summerlease Road.

19. Land off Wooburn Moor.