A SENIOR Tory has come out against the community stadium – despite his party's non-committal election approach.

Former Marlow Mayor Cllr Doug Anson has slammed the proposal for Wycombe Air Park, Booker, Great Marlow.

He has declared his views following the letter from action group GASP.

Campaigners asked all council candidates to say where they stood on the stadium.

Wycombe Conservatives have said its council hopefuls' position is: “I am neither for or against this idea.”

But Cllr Anson, also a Buckinghamshire County Councillor, said: “I'm not in favour of the stadium and if elected on May 5 I should be one of those people strongly opposing it.

“I'm quite happy to put my position clearly on that.

"I will do everything in my power if elected to oppose it.

“It would have a negative position throughout the whole of the district I would think, but mainly places like Booker, Marlow, and around this area.

“I can't see it doing any good. The implication of the cost of it is astronomical.”

Great Marlow ward candidate Cllr Dominic Barnes, Tory, has also released a statement opposing the stadium on behalf of himself and fellow Conservative John Richards.

It read:"Having considered the issues surrounding the location of the stadium, we are strongly against the proposed site.

"We have visited most of the homes in our ward and our position represents the views of the majority of our electors."

Ian Wernham Conservative candidate for Marlow Town Council (North West Ward) and Secretary of Marlow Conservatives, said: "I fully support Cllr Doug Anson in his opposition to the proposed Community Stadium at Booker.

"The Conservatives have pledged to protect the green belt and as such we should not be involved with the proposed development at Booker, particulary for a large stadium that is not wanted by local residents, as highlighted in the recent survey carried out by the Bucks Free Press.

"If the scheme were to go ahead, I fear the increased traffic on the B482 (Lane End road) on match days and if/when the stadium were used for other non sports events, such as concerts, would have a grave impact on the quality of life for many Marlow residents. "Even if a new access road were built between Handy Cross (which in it's self will destroy more green belt) and Booker, many Wanderers/Wasps fans would know they could access the stadium via Marlow.

"The Chilterns that surround Marlow have been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty and all three levels of local gorvernment, Bucks County, Wycombe District and Marlow Town Council's should ensure the area is protected from development, not encourage it.

Ian Morton, Lib Dem candidate for Chiltern Rise, said: "There is much anger in the village of Lane End that the Conservatives are driving the bulldozer which will end up destroying the Green Belt Land which separates the village from Booker.

"Lane End will be submerged into Wycombe and the village atmosphere will be lost forever if this development goes ahead with the hundreds of new houses that are expected.

"Land End residents I have spoken to are annoyed that the Conservatives have already spent half a million pounds planning the destruction of the Green Belt and are therefore unconvinced by their late opposition to the plans.

"I support the Liberal Democrat manifesto which states clearly that this development should not be on Green Belt Land."

The Wycombe Labour Party have also released a statement.

Linda Derrick and Mohammed Rafiq, Labour candidates for the Sands ward said: “We said we would listen to the residents of Sands and represent their views on the stadium.

“We have canvassed these opinions on hundreds of doorsteps and overwhelmingly have been told that the local people do not want £750,000 of council money spent on a feasibility study for a speculative venture with the private sector”.

Linda Derrick said: “This view from the people of Sands comes at a time when councils are facing deep cuts imposed by the Tory led government.

“If the residents elect us on May 5, we will represent their views in the council.”

Wycombe Labour’s manifesto promises “to plan for the early development of an easily accessible multi purpose sports centre, oppose the use of public money to facilitate commercial developments and ensure that the public are made fully aware of all the facts concerning any proposed development”.

See related articles below for the other contenders who have said where they stand on the issue.