Stadium public consultation given thumbs up

Wycombe District Council chiefs said it was important to gain feedback from residents and moved to reassure residents the proposed community stadium was “not just about the clubs but for the good of the wider district.”

The council has cut its 19 'long-list' of proposed sites down to three shortlisted sites – Adams Park, Abbey Barn south and Wycombe Air Park.

But planning bosses insist that “nothing [sites] can be completely out of the question at this stage."

Deputy leader of the council Tony Green said he was hopeful “as many people as possible” would get involved in the consultation on the scheme, which he called a “once in a life time opportunity for a town like Wycombe.”

The consultation, which will be made up of forms, online surveys and public meeting events, will begin on September 17 and run until October 29.

It will provide information on the overall scheme and move to 'address concerns' about the council's financial involvement in the project and its impact on council tax.

The forms will ask residents to state which of four broad stadium plans they prefer.

These are: Retain Adams Park and seek improvements to “make the best of it."

Identify a site for a new 'primary stadium facility only', but this “would not lead to lead to any significant change” and would be “unlikely to attract investment and commitment necessary to ensure delivery.”

The 'primary stadium plus supporting facilities' option would see a stadium built with the addition of community pitches, meeting rooms and club training facilities.

The final option, a 'full sports village', would create a 'single sports hub for the district' incorporating indoor sports facilities and track and field.

The council has also revealed that it has narrowed its long-list down to three sites.

These are Adams Park - which the council says is “constrained” and “limits the scope of both clubs' ambition” - Abbey Barn south and Wycombe Air Park.

But the council's head of planning and sustainability Jerry Unsworth said the council had still not ruled out any other area in the district.

He said: “Nothing can be completely out of the question at this stage and this consultation will help us decide.

“What we have done is identity sites which meet a certain criteria and some have more difficulties in terms of deliverability then others.

“We're not saying one is in and one is out but clearly we need to find a site and then sit back and then ask does it justify going for it.

“But this is not just about the clubs, it's about doing the what is best for the wider community.

"London Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers play a big part in that wider community.”

The authority has attracted controversy over plans to spend upto £750,000 on the project.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Trevor Snaith asked the ruling Conservative council why the consultation did not give residents the chance to vote against a stadium at a Full Council meeting last month.

But Mr Unsworth told the Bucks Free Press that Adams Park had been shortlisted for those residents who wanted the current set up to remain the same.

A second consultation will be held at a later date.

The following public events on the plans will be held on the following dates:

· Saturday, September 25, 10am-4pm, High Wycombe Library.

· Tuesday, October 5, 5-8pm, Court Garden Leisure Complex, Marlow.

· Thursday, October 14, 5-8pm, Risborough Information Centre, Princes Risborough.

While further 'discussion forums' will be held on the following dates:

· Thursday, September 30, 7-9pm, The King’s Centre, Desborough Road, High Wycombe.

· Tuesday, October 12, 7-9pm, The Town Hall, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe.

Visit www.wycombe.gov.uk from September 17 for the online survey and to find out where you can have your say.

Will you be taking part in the consultation? Leave your comments below.

Click on the link below to read our stories on the plans.