WANDERERS and Wasps have strongly hit back after Liberal Democrat councillors claimed they tried to influence the public consultation to an ‘unacceptable level’.

Steve Guy, the Lib Dem leader on Wycombe District Council, said he was concerned by an email sent out by Wycombe Sports Development Ltd (WSDL), the organisation set up by the clubs to oversee the project.

Last month the clubs announced they wanted a new stadium at Wycombe Air Park in Booker.

The email was sent to those registering with WSDL to hear more about its plans.

The email urges people to take part in the consultation and adds: “Please join us and back Booker now”.

It also includes a link to the council website and instructions to “select option D 'sports village'” and “When you go to Question 4, select the option for Wycombe Air Park”.

A press release from the Lib Dems quotes Cllr Guy as saying: “I have been contacted by a resident who received this email and they were concerned at what is a clear attempt to skew the results of the consultation in favour of the Booker site.”

But Mike Brooks, of WSDL, hit back saying at no point had WSDL attempted to skew the consultation and added: “To suggest this is untrue and unfounded.

“When people have registered on our website, we have asked them to support our position and directed them to the council's online form to fill in if they wish to do so.

“At the same time we have explained how to show their support for our plans, again if they want to do so.

“This is an open public consultation process and it is right and proper that we make our voices heard so that the stadium and sports village proposal can progress to the next stage of design and further consultation.

“Since the council short-listed three sites we have been clear in all our communication that only Booker allows for the community stadium and sports village.”