6:32pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Simon Farr
PLANNING officers have advised Wycombe District Council's planning committee to approve controversial plans to move an athletics track to a Hazlemere school.
The council submitted a planning application to build a floodlit eight lane, 400m running track, complete with a pole vault runway, shot putt circle and football pitch, at Sir William Ramsay School in December.
More than 1000 residents have submitted objections against the plans - citing traffic congestion, parking problems, noise and light pollution and a fear the development would destroy the wildlife habitat.
The scheme would replace the Wycombe Sports Centre athletics track, which the council wants to move to make way for a coachway and business park at the Handy Cross.
The “gateway” coachway project was approved last month by councillors subject to planning conditions, including the relocation of the sports centre running track.
Controversy has engulfed the saga after a leaked email from planning committee member Cllr Hugh McCarthy suggested that councillor's should “remember the officer's warning, if it (track) fails at planning then the coachway project is dead, so we need to be careful.”
But the vice chairman of the planning committee, Cllr Simon Bazley, said the committee decides “every application on its merits.”
Cllr McCarthy has been advised by the council solicitor to “play no part” in the decision making process when the planning committee meets to discuss the plans next Wednesday.
Click on the link below to read the planning officer's report in full.
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