A COUNCILLOR elected on his anti-stadium stance has admitted the newly released plans are “very seductive” - but he remains highly sceptical nonetheless.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Simon Parker presented a petition with 600 names to the council last week, calling for taxpayers' assets and money to stop being used on the scheme.

The names were gathered in the Booker and Cressex ward – where the proposed stadium/sports village site - Wycombe Air Park lies.

Close to £500,000 has been spent investigating the proposal, with another £250,000 originally earmarked on top of that.

He was among Wycombe District Councillors who attended a business breakfast presentation last Wednesday by Steve Hayes, owner of Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers.

Cllr Parker said: “I have to say I was very impressed by the presentation, it was very seductive, but the devil really is in the detail.

“I'm not convinced by some of the figures that are just kind of plucked from the air, we're asked to believe it will bring a benefit of £125m but there's no real supporting evidence.”

WSDL, the company behind the plans, said an independent assessment by accountants Baker Tilly estimates at least £125m benefit to Wycombe over 25 years.

He said his party were exploring claims that new grounds get a 40 per cent crowd increase, but remained dubious.

He also questioned if visiting supporters would be likely to spend time in the town before and after games – and spend money there – because of the location.

He felt it was also not clear how accessible the sporting facilities in general would be available to the community.

He said the Green Belt issue remained the “fundamental, underlying concern”.

Petiton forms were delivered directly to homes in Booker and Cressex. The vast majority – 95 per cent of those who signed came from Wycombe district – and 75 per cent from the ward itself, although one came from Carlisle.

WSDL has said the sporting village would generate £500,000 a year for WDC and it is not seeking any equity investment from the authority.

Responding to claims about Green Belt loss, it said only 20 per cent of the entire site will be used, it will open up areas of previously inaccessible land to the public, and the development would be 'environmentally sustainable'.

More visitors from surrounding areas will be attracted, it added.