FOLLOWING the letter from action group GASP asking for council election hopefuls to declare their stance on the community stadium, here are the responses so far:

Wendy Mallen, Wycombe District Councillor for Downley and Plomer Hill Ward, said:

“The officers at Wycombe District Council are going through an evaluation process which has a long way to go.

“Many people have stated their position without all the facts to hand, as these have not be ascertained as yet and will not be for some considerable time.

“I have heard many residents complain that this road or that aspect of a possible development will be detrimental to them, but how can they state this when no one has a published plan or any details or hard facts to go on?

“I am sorry to tell you that without these details I am neither for or against this idea and will not prejudice any vote I may have on the outcome by stating a preference before all the facts are known.

“This should be the case for all councillors who may have to vote on a planning application.

“I hope you will agree that this is the only fair way to proceed when you take on the responsibility of being a District Councillor regardless of party.”

Matt Knight and Paula Lee, Liberal Democrat candidates for the Micklefield Ward, said:

“We are the Liberal Democrat candidates for the Micklefield Ward and we do not support the proposal to build a stadium at Booker as we are against the use of green belt land and feel it is an inappropriate use of tax payers money in these difficult financial times.

“Many people in our community are life long fans of Wycombe Wanderers and also support London Wasps, so we do wish to support the growth of the clubs.

“However, in line with our Liberal Democrat manifesto, this should not be at the expense of the tax payer or our beautiful Chiltern countryside.”

Nigel Vickery and Henry Oriabure Labour Party candidates for Booker:

“WE are both strongly against the proposals.

"It is WRONG for the Council for spend public money on what is a development for two private companies. It is the WRONG place to put such a development.

“The Local Residents are against the plans, it is they (unlike Mr Hayes & Co) who have to live with it 365 days a year.

"It is not as some seem to think. Just 2 days a week, but 7 days a week 52 weeks of the year.

“The local road systems are not able to deal with such use. Any-one going around that area, will learn that.

“We are committed to fight the proposals, within Council should we be elected on 5th May. If the proposals get the go ahead.

“Both Henry & I will continue to fight the proposals, in the best interests of our Constituents.”

Steve Guy, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Wycombe District Council, said:

“In response to the challenge laid down by Keith Francis of GASP, first may I congratulate him on recognising how much these local elections will shape Wycombe's future.

“This is one of the most contentious issues that has faced Wycombe in a very long time.

“I believe that my own personal opposition has been clearly demonstrated over the last year or so. In December of last year, I put down a motion in Full Council that we should cease spending money on this project.

“This motion was seconded by Cllr Trevor Snaith and supported by all of my Liberal Democrat colleagues.

“I have long believed that now is not the time for risky ventures with our money and assets. The fact that the Darlington Stadium recently went up for sale should be a cautionary example of how these vanity projects can end in tears.

“I am also vehemently opposed to the present site identified (Wycombe Air Park at Booker) which is an outstanding example of our local heritage, as well as a precious open green space.

“All Liberal Democrat candidates will be fighting on our local manifesto which clearly states: We welcome the presence of major sport clubs such as Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps in the District. "We will work with them to support their development and growth.

“Any development must include clear benefit to the local economy and provide improved access to sports to local residents: it must not be at the expense of the tax payer nor affect Green Belt land.

“I hope this will reassure residents who want to support us.”

From The Risboroughs, Independent candidates for WDC elections - Dennis Green, Gary Hall & Alan Turner:

“Just to re-affirm our positions, both Dennis Green and Gary Hall are serving WDC members (IND) and have stated their current positions as against the proposed stadium project going forward.

“Together with Alan Turner all three candidates have stated they will continue to oppose the project if elected as we do not believe that this £85M project is in the best interests of Princes Risborough tax-payers and the wider population of the district.

“Cllr Dennis Green was a former Conservative who resigned from the party to become an Independent and stated the stadium as one reason for leaving in his resignation letter.

“Furthermore at the WDC meeting on 11th April I (Gary Hall ) tabled a question as to why as a Task & Finish Group member I was informed that 800 homes would be needed in the Green Belt at Booker for the enabling development and now WDC have released a newssheet stating the figure is likely to be 600 homes.

“This could equate to a £20M shortfall in funding and expose the council to considerable financial risk.

"I expressed my concerns that the council is moving forward with the project far too quickly.

Andrew Stevens Liberal Democrat candidate standing in the Disraeli ward:

“My personal position is fully aligned with the party's local manifesto viz. that any development to assist in the development of Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps has to include clear benefits to the local community both economically and in providing improved access to sporting opportunities, and that it is not at the expense of the tax payer or affect Green Belt or AONB land.”

Anthony Mealing, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Abbey Ward, said:

"Reading last weeks BFP, as we all do, and looking at this “stadium” debate, why are WDC Councillors still sanctioning spending yet more money on consultants fees when if they only listened to the electorate and especially those residents who would be affected by these proposals, they would have the sensible answer for free.

"Don’t spend the time or money on the subject. "There was a time when our personal budgets, our family and our council’s budgets were run on the principles, you can only spend what your have coming in after the essentials of life have been paid for.

"But we are cutting essential services, making staff redundant, not filling vacated posts etc.

"So why are certain council members still pursuing what seems to be their dream solution?

("This project) The Stadium will not bring any significant income to the town; visitors will come to look at an event and go.

"The local roadways will become clogged with visitors’ cars, the locals’ lives will, during these times be made hell.

"And tell me how many in the total electoral district of High Wycombe will use(s) these facilities 5%? Whereas, other more essential services are being cut or curtailed, ones that are used by a much larger percentage of the electorate by those who really need them.

"If private enterprise wants to invest, let it but not out our cost, let them fund all of it including the preamble investigations, land acquisition and so on, though the normal planning channels.

"I will never use it, most of the people I know and my family will never use it, and what benefit is it to rate and council tax payers in the more outlying WDC districts.

"Try explaining that those who are losing vital services provided by the District Council or who are about to be made redundant by WDC."

UK Independence Party (High Wycombe Branch)- candidates Brian Pearce and Hedley Luxton.

"The UK Independence Party has pledged to support the 'NO TO BOOKER' campaign in the High Wycombe District Council elections.

"Their candidates standing for election in Booker and Cressex have declared their opposition to the current Conservative councils Stadium and Sports Village Project.

"Local residents, Brian Pearce and Hedley Luxton would reject the councils involvement in the proposed development in the Green Belt.

"They have said that Council spending must be concentrated on 'needs' not 'wants', if this development goes ahead it will change Booker and Cressex forever, no longer on the edge of town, and totally against the purpose of the Green Belt.

" Their opposition is not a question of 'not our Backyard'.

"If this project is allowed to go ahead it will affect the whole of Wycombe and beyond, financed by the people of High Wycombe and Bucks County Council tax payers.

"Wycombe has many self supporting sporting activities throughout the town, in Booker and Cressex there is 5 -a-side football at Cressex School, badminton at Cressex, squash on the Air Park, Football and Cricket on Fernie Fields.

"Financial aid to these clubs would be in line with government self help policies.

"Participation sports are best run by enthusiastic club members not business provided facilities.

Election flyers from Tory candidates in Chiltern Rise - Cllrs Ian McEnnis and Jean Teesdale - and in Great Marlow - Dominic Barnes and John Richards - have stated opposition to the stadium.