A REFERENDUM on the proposed new community stadium could be triggered by residents under a little known law, a development campaigner says.

Legislation already in existence gives electors the chance to call for a 'parish poll', asking voters any question they want.

The ballot must be called for at a parish or town council meeting by at least ten residents, under the Local Government Act 1972.

Mike Post from the Marlow Group, which scrutinises major developments, has encouraged householders across Wycombe district to use the law for a referendum on the stadium.

Four years ago the Marlow Group organised a poll in Marlow which stopped a funeral director's offices being demolished so Waitrose could expand.

Voters overwhelmingly rejected the proposition that land owned by the Sawyer family should be the subject of a compulsory purchase order by Wycombe District Council - with a 93 per cent majority.

Mr Post said the referendum would be simple, inexpensive and “a wholly constitutional and convincing way to gauge public opinion”.

The 2006 Marlow poll cost about £2,000.

The ballot is paid for by the parish council and once called, the district council is under a statutory duty to run it.

Bisham resident Mr Post believes it would be a more accurate way of judging residents' feelings than WDC's consultation and a recent Free Press poll - which was heavily criticised by club bosses for being 'skewed' by mulitple votes arranged on fans' forums.

He told the Free Press: “Properly managed and with the right questions asked, it can be a very powerful tool.”

However, he added, unless the turnout was high it would lack credibility.

Mr Post thinks the £750,000 WDC has earmarked to investigate the project is “crazy”.

“In my view it's absolutely irresponsible of WDC to use taxpayers' money to take such a huge commercial gamble – which all football clubs are,” he said.

WDC Leader Cllr Lesley Clarke has said it is not taxpayers' money because it will come from property deals.

Wycombe Air Park, earmarked by Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps as their preferred location for the new ground, is sited in Booker.

The area is covered by Great Marlow Parish Council.

Results of any such poll could be ignored by council bosses because it is not legally binding.

Cllr Steve Guy, Liberal Democrat Leader at Wycombe District Council, also warned it would not enable many Booker residents to have their say because their area is 'unparished', and urged them instead to contact their ward councillors.

WDC is currently analysing the results of its public consultation.