COUNCIL chiefs say Steve Hayes' announcement that he wants to move London Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers to Booker will not effect the council's public consultation.

Deputy Leader of Wycombe District Council Cllr Tony Green said the clubs were "well within their rights" to announce their preferred site for a proposed community stadium.

But he moved to reassure residents that the announcement by Wycombe Sports Developments Ltd, the organisation set up by the clubs for the project, would have “no sway” on the council or the ongoing public consultation.

WSDL confirmed it wanted to build a state-of-the-art 17,500-20,000 seater stadium and sports village at Wycombe Air Park in Booker on Tuesday (see link).

Cllr Green said: “The clubs obviously have a big interest in this and it isn't really surprising that they wanted to flag up their thoughts - but it doesn't sway the consultation.

“What they presented is the reasons why it [Booker] works as a site for them but we are committed to this public consultation and we will wait to find out the outcomes.”

Cllr Green added that it was also too early to discuss any potential council funding of the project until after the consultation had finished and a decision had been taken.

He said: “If people take part in the consultation and they do not believe we should be building a new stadium, there would be very little to discuss.

“But if they want a stadium then we would [have to discuss it], but it would be a little silly to do that at this stage.”

Jerry Unsworth, WDC's head of planning and sustainability, said he expects the council to announce its findings from the public consultation - which closes on Friday, October 29 - in January.

The council said they were pleased with the amount of residents who had already taken part in the early stages of the consultation, which started on September 17.

More than 200 people attended a public exhibition about the stadium plans at the High Wycombe Library on Saturday.

Residents can take part in the consultation by picking up and filling out a form, or by completing a survey on the council's website.

Another public exhibition will be held at Marlow's Court Garden Leisure Complex on October 5 and at the Risborough Information Centre in Princes Risborough on October 14.

The first of two interactive public meetings into the plans will be held at 7pm at The King's Centre in Desborough Road on Thursday.

The second of the public meetings will take place at the High Wycombe Town Hall on Tuesday, October 12 at 7pm.

Booking is required for both meetings, via community.stadium@wycombe.gov.uk

Click on the link below to read our stories on the stadium plans, or click on the 'WDC stadium consultation' to be taken to the consultation website.