CAMPAIGN group GASP has welcomed proposed 'public inquiry' style meetings on a potential community stadium planning application – but said there is still a “long road” ahead.

A series of four meetings giving the public a chance to speak on the issue was recommended by a scrutiny committee this week - if cabinet decides to proceed with the project.

Its findings would then be considered by cabinet.

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Campaigners were also buoyed this week by comments from Tory Cllr Paul Rogerson who attacked the lack of evidence for a case to build on the greenbelt.

He said: "Certainly, as far as I can see no very special circumstances have been identified."

Groups Against the Stadium Proposals, a coalition of organisations, today said there had been 'positive signs' after this week's Improvement and Review Commission report.

Neil Butler, leader of the finace group at GASP, said: “I think with the attendance of the meeting (on Wednesday) and everything else, there's a real positive sign that both within the council and even now within Conservative ranks that people seem to be taking some of the issues a bit more seriously.

“I think from GASP's point of view, we can only welcome that.

“I feel this is going to be a really long road. It only feels like a small positive step because we haven't had any meetings yet with the council.”

Of the proposed 'public inquiry' style meetings, he said: “We've always wanted to talk to the council and up to this point, with the various groups which make up GASP, none of them had direct contact with the council.

“Now, if this is the opportunity to do that that has to improve the situation.”

But he added: “Four meeting evenings over two weeks seems to me quite a small element when you consider the size of the development.”

  • GASP members:

    1.The Marlow Society

    2.The Chiltern Society

    3.Flackwell Heath Residents Association

    4.Claymoor Park Residents Association

    5.Booker Gliding Club

    6.Booker Common & Woods Protection Society

    7.High Wycombe & District Rifle & Pistol Club

    8.Great Marlow Parish Council

    9.Valley Plus (Marlow Bottom OPAG)

    10.Chiltern Conservation Board

    11.Little Marlow Parish Council

    12.Marlow Bottom Residents Association / Parish Council

    13. Notbackingbooker website

    14.The Link community magazine

    15.Lane End Action Group

    16. NotoBooker.com

The enabling development would include about 600 homes, the scrutiny committee were told on Wednesday.

Mr Butler said: “What we have been concerned about as much as anything else is the lack of information on the scale of the enabling project.”

With such a large development infrastructure elements such as roads, schools and even dental practices would come into it, he said.

“All of a sudden, you've created a new village, rather than talking about a sporting village,” he said.

“If they were talking about building another village on the periphery of High Wycombe people people might have reacted differently to it.”

He said it was “disappointing” councillors such as Val Razzaq felt they had to stand because of the issue.

A second protest by the group's members will take place from 5.30pm outside WDC headquarters before the cabinet meet on Monday.