MORE than 7,000 people have now responded to the public consultation on plans for a new stadium and sports village for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps.

The figure was just 2,000 at the start of the week but councillor Tony Green, the deputy leader of Wycombe District Council, said the Bucks Free Press and various lobby groups had helped push the number up.

He added: “It's been a very high profile consultation. We are very pleased because all through this we've wanted to get as big a response as possible.”

A row broke out over the consultation this week after Liberal Democrat councillors said an email sent out by Wanderers and Wasps would 'skew' the results.

The clubs' email urged people to take part and added: “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”.

The clubs' announced last month that Wycombe Air Park in Booker is their preferred option for the stadium. The council has said the announcement would hold 'no sway' over the public consultation.

Lib Dem Trevor Snaith, a Wycombe district councillor, said the email 'tactics' were similar to those used by campaigners who wanted Holywell Mead swimming pool to reopen.

After a previous consultation into the future of the swimming pool site council bosses said the results could not be relied upon because it had been “hijacked” by campaigners (see link below).

We asked the council if the consultation results for the stadium would also be treated with caution, following the email from the clubs.

Spokesman Catherine Spalton said: “We would hope that people have made their own decisions and submitted their comments about the Wycombe Community Stadium and Sports Project based on the information that is available.”

When asked if the council was concerned about the emails from Wanderers and Wasps, Cllr Green said in a statement: “As with any consultation... we are aware that a number of interested parties have been encouraging their members to support a particular position when responding to the consultation.”

Wycombe Sports Developments Ltd, which sent out the emails for Wanderers and Wasps, this week said: “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."

Both Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps have asked fans on their respective websites to get behind their campaigns to 'back Booker' today, on the final day of the consultation.

The 'No to Booker' website is also campaigning, against the rehoming of the football club.

Follow the links below to make up your own mind on the stadium debate.