COUNCIL chiefs were forced to defend their council's role in controversial plans for a new stadium and sports village for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps.

Wycombe District Council's leader Cllr Lesley Clarke and deputy leader Cllr Tony Green stood firm about the proposals and the council's on going public consultation on the project when quizzed at a meeting on Monday.

Cllr Clarke batted away calls from Cllr Trevor Snaith that the authority should side with the Liberal Democrats and not purse the project 'in a time of restraint'.

She told WDC's full council meeting on Monday that as a “life-long Conservative, of course I don't agree with the Liberal Democrats”.

She said the project “was about so much more than a stadium” and pointed to the employment and sporting opportunities that would be created by a sports village.

Cllr Clarke added the council had “a proud record” of bringing in successful large projects into the district, highlighting the Eden shopping complex.

She also reiterated deputy leader of the council Cllr Tony Green's pleas from earlier in the meeting for residents to partake in the ongoing public consultation over the plans.

Cllr Green had earlier been forced to defend the public consultation, after a member of the public asked if the council's head had been turned by the clubs' announcement earlier this month.

Wycombe Sports Developments Ltd, the company set up by the clubs to oversee the project, announced that it is “backing Booker” as its preferred site for a 17,500-20,000 capacity stadium and sports village (see link).

Cllr Green said the clubs were entitled to voice their preference but the announcement “makes no difference” to the “full, open and transparent consultation”.

He also scotched suggestions the public consultation was a “waste of public money”.

Cllr Green said: “There were people both for and against the stadium at the [public consultation] meeting...I don't think the money is wasted, and the more responses we get, the more accurate the results will be.”

The public pushed Cllr Green about which party's views – the residents or the clubs - would “hold more sway” if the consultation revealed that residents did not want a stadium.

Cllr Green responded: “This is a full public consultation, if the result of this is they do not want a stadium, that is the view that will prevail – it is their preference.”

The council's public consultation ends on Friday, October 29. To take part, click on the link below.