TWO referendums on building Wycombe Wanderers' and Wasps' new stadium in Booker are on the cards for January.

A public vote on the clubs' plans for a new ground at Wycombe Air Park is likely to be called at two parish councils – Lane End and Great Marlow.

Residents in both areas have expressed an interest in using the little known 'parish poll' law.

There are strong objections both to building on the greenbelt site and Wycombe District Council's involvement in the project.

WDC has not come out in favour of supporting Booker - the clubs' choice - but it has carried out a public consultation.

It will decide its position in January, after looking at the results.

Householders in Lane End have been among the most vociferously opposed.

Graeme Coulter, Chairman of Lane End Parish Council, said: “I think there's a very good chance that residents of Lane End will require us to hold a referendum.

“My own view is they probably won't do until the New Year.

"And technically it can't be done now before the New Year anyway.

“We want to make sure the majority of our residents and community have sufficient notice.

"We know what they feel, it's almost universal opposition.

“As far as they are concerned the council's intention to rape and pillage the green belts is absolutely unbelievable.”

But WDC has insisted plans are at an extremely early stage and asked residents to wait for the consultation results before jumping to conclusions.

Leader Lesley Clarke expressed her fears last week rumours about the stadium plans were getting “out of control”.

Cllr Coulter said councillors should be in no doubt about how strongly residents feel.

He said this was evidenced by the “phenomenal” 300 turnout at recent meeting about the ground proposals – when the highest he had ever seen was about 20.

Residents in Great Marlow called off a parish poll this month because of the impracticalities of holding it near to Christmas – but still plan to go ahead with it in January.

A referendum can be triggered by ten residents at a parish council meeting which then has to be carried out by the district council.

But the result is not binding.

WDC has earmarked £750,000 to assess the feasibility of the plans, about a third of which has already been spent.

A Scrutiny committee will consider whether this should be stopped.