LIBERAL Democrat Leader Steve Guy says he 'hopes and prays' the election of Alex Collingwood as new Conservative Leader of Wycombe District Council 'signals a change in direction' on the stadium.

Mr Guy, who surprisingly lost his Totteridge seat on Friday, believes the appointment of Cllr Collingwood shows Tories realised a “fresh approach” was needed.

Cllr Collingwood has been a leading critic of the proposal for a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and Wasps at Wycombe Air Park in Booker, Great Marlow.

He beat fellow Marlow Councillor Richard Scott in the Conservative leadership contest on Saturday.

Mr Guy said: “That would have meant business as usual I think.

"The stadium would be carrying on and continuing to ignore the outcry of local people."

Cllr Tony Green would have been Cllr Scott's number two had they won the Conservative leadership contest.

Cllr Green has been heading the scheme.

“I think if you'd had Richard Scott and Tony Green, it would have been more of the same, so I think there's a number of Conservatives who recognised that wasn't the way forward and needed a fresh approach," Mr Guy said.

Mr Guy, who lost his seat by just 29 votes, said: “I've been saying to people for some time that that's who they should go with (Cllr Collingwood).

“To be honest I think it's time to ring the changes in Wycombe Conservatives and I hope and pray this signals a change in direction.

“I genuinely and sincerely hope that because they have gone with a fresh man, and also a man who is, to be fair, someone I have some respect for the way he carried himself, the way he challenged the old guard (as scrutiny committee chairman) this means they will re-evaluate the stadium plans because they are wrong.

“I think there's a number of Conservatives who realise we were right about the stadium.”

He added: “I think those Conservatives who stated their decision very clearly have seen their vote increase, people like Jean Teesdale did very well.”

A new Lib Dem Leader will be elected on Tuesday night.