LIBERAL Democrats have delivered a withering assessment of the community stadium consultation, calling it 'skewed' and 'flawed' due to the influence of people outside the district.

And Conservatives were warned not to ignore the strength of feeling against the project – or it could hit them at the ballot box in May.

It follows the council's announcement that a clear majority of those who took part in the survey backed Wycombe Air Park as their preferred choice for a new ground for Wasps and Wanderers.

The Tories hit back, accusing the Lib Dems of electioneering and short term thinking.

Tory-controlled Wycombe District Council said the results – with 74 per cent showing 'broad' support 'in principle' for the Booker site – were conclusive.

But Cllr Steve Guy, Lib Dem Leader at WDC said: “Frankly, I don't believe that at all, I don't accept that."

Just over 35 per cent out of the 74 per cent backing the air park site gave a Wycombe address, 31.7 per cent came from outside Wycombe district, slightly under 7 per cent were unspecified.

"I don't think the people who live outside the district are the ones we should be listening to," Cllr Guy said.

“The consultation is very flawed and unreliable.”

He forecast problems for the Tories at the May elections.

“I think the Conservatives are playing a dangerous game here, I have never seen this strength of feeling over anything.

“I think they are taking a huge chance if they go against the public opinion because they gave to face the people in May.”

Lib Dem colleague Cllr Trevor Snaith called the consultation report “aspiration and spin”.

Various concerns raised in the council's own report, particularly financial and economic, to show further work is needed, he said.

He thinks a district wide referendum should be considered.

WDC Deputy Leader Cllr Tony Green said: “We are certainly not playing a dangerous game, we've done a huge consultation, had a result and are moving forward with that result.

“I think the Lib Dems are electioneering because they are desperately trying to find something to fight an election on.

“I think it underlines their short termism. I suspect with Cllr Guy and the Lib Dems perhaps they'd never be bold enough to do any large projects.

“We take a different view – we are elected to improve and look after the district.”

He said the consultation was run by experienced professionals who were impressed by the level of the response and the results were statistically correct 'within two-and-a-half per cent'.

He said no other polls so far carried out, including the Bucks Free Press online ballot, were restricted to Wycombe residents.

The results of consultation responses were “mirrored both within and outside the district”, he said.

The figures, using only those within the district, showed about 68 per cent 'broad support in principle' for Booker.