A GREAT Marlow councillor has launched a strong attack on Wycombe District Council leader Lesley Clarke.

Last week, Cllr Clarke stoked controversy by urging concerned district councillors to speak to her, not the press, about their concerns about the community stadium.

But Labour parish Cllr Janet Pritchard has slammed these comments and branded Cllr Clarke “a woman on a mission”.

She has previously claimed that the council felt sidetracked from the stadium debate despite the preferred site at Wycombe Air Park being in its “patch”.

And speaking to the Marlow Free Press, Cllr Prichard blasted: “Lesley Clarke does not want to hear other opinions and nobody will stand in her way.

“We have tried and tried to get a response from the district council, as the air park is in our parish.

“Nobody but nobody has replied, so no wonder other councillors are feeling frustrated.” But WDC leader Cllr Clarke responded by branding the comments “scurrilous remarks”.

She insisted that the only decision that has been made is about the stadium’s preferred site and the council is still at the beginning of a long process.

Cllr Clarke said: “I totally and utterly refute these accusations that I am trying to drive this [the stadium] through.

“She [Cllr Pritchard] should know how councils work and we don’t work like that on the district council.

“People who know me know that’s untrue and that what I have at the heart of being a Wycombe councillor is Wycombe.”

Cllr Clarke added that the council will soon ask two or three representative from all the groups affected by the planned stadium to meet with officers in person.

She added: “We are asking for groups who have worries and who are also in favour to come along.

“We are going to be meeting with all people to talk about it and I’m sure Cllr Pritchard will be one who will come along.”