Wanderers' Little Marlow stadium idea 'nuts' (From Bucks Free Press)

Wanderers' Little Marlow stadium idea 'nuts'

7:50am Saturday 24th July 2010 in News By James Nadal

Marlow Football Club stadium design plans at the Little Marlow gravel pits from 2008

THE possibility of a new Wycombe Wanderers stadium in Little Marlow 75 times larger than a recently rejected ground proposal for Marlow FC has been labelled 'nuts'.

Little Marlow Gravel Pits was named among 19 possible sites for a joint ground with rugby club Wasps - just five months after plans for a new 264 seater stadium for Marlow FC were kicked out.

A public inquiry, held in February, ruled against the plan.

It backed a decision by Wycombe District Councillors to reject the move a year earlier.

The announcement has been met with bewilderment from leading figures on both sides of Marlow FC's long running stadium move battle.

The plan to replace Wycombe Wanderers current Adams Park ground would include a stadium with up to 20,000 seats.

Ray Frith, a director of Marlow FC, said it “would be a smack in the face” if it went beyond the initial list of possibilities.

He said: “Yes, 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."

The Oak Tree Road outfit's director said: “It would be a kick in the stomach if we found that that was what they were seriously thinking about it.

“We have been slapped down and we have bent backwards to appease the objectors.”

He added: “However, if it did indeed involve Marlow FC we would be delighted.”

Mike Overall was coordinator of the Little Marlow Gravel Pits Partnership which fought against Marlow FC's proposal.

The group, including residents, conservation groups and parish councillors, welcomed the planning inspector's finding in February that it was “inappropriate development in the Green Belt”.

Mr Overall said: “I think the council have gone nuts to even suggest it following the rejection of the North West Estates (the developer) proposal on appeal.

“I'm appalled to think they can even suggest it after all those decisions.

“I can't see that working out it's pretty far fetched.”

He said some of the sites were “crazy”.

“The only ones there that would really make any sense there would be the Cressex and the Handy Cross ones, all the rest are going right into the countryside,” he said.

Jerry Unsworth, WDC’s head of planning, said the inclusion of all the sites 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.

Mr Unsworth, referring to Little Marlow Gravel Pits, 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 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.