CAMPAIGNERS trying to stop a green valley near High Wycombe from being built on have slammed the decision to limit the debate on its future to a handful of politicians.

‘Hands Off Gomm Valley’ protestors want to prevent the lush green area from being turned into housing, despite it being earmarked as a reserve site since the 1950s.

A decision over the future of the valley and four other key sites across the district will be taken by Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet of eight councillors later this month.

But Paula Lee, councillor for Micklefield, is angry the fate of whole swathes of the district is in the hands of so few councillors, rather than those which represent the areas being debated.

She said: "The decision to release the reserve sites is a key decision that will reshape our District permanently.

"It should be made by a full Council meeting where the viewpoints of all 60 Councillors can be heard in the debate. How can I represent my constituents when I am being denied a vote in this key decision?

"Both the leader of this Council and the cabinet member responsible are from the Marlow. They don’t speak for my constituents, they can’t even speak for their Conservative colleagues in Wycombe and yet with this decision they are forcing their view on the whole of our District."

WDC must show it is meeting its rolling five-year housing supply - backdated to 2011 - leaving a shortfall of around 1400 to be accommodated soon.

And with appeals likely to go the way of developers if WDC continues to trail behind on its required housing numbers, an option to release the sites is on the table.

Opposition to building on the reserve sites - Abbey Barn North, Abbey Barn South, Gomm Valley and Ashwells, Slate Meadow and Terriers Farm - has led to numerous petitions and residents’ action groups.

But planners say it's becoming harder to turn down applications from developers on non-green belt sites like Gomm Valley due to national changes in planning policy, so the areas may be built on anyway.

WDC leader Richard Scott, who represents Marlow, said the decision to debate the sites in Cabinet is standard practice and will not affect due process.

He said: "This is a cabinet decision as there is no policy change because the sites have been reserved for years. There are now four options to consider.

"I do not accept the view that it is anything to do with cabinet members living nearby. They are utterly scrupulous about all decisions across the whole district.

"There are lots of decisions that are not close to where members live and this is no different. It is the same with the planning committee.

"The detail in the documents it is comprehensive and the right decision will be made."

Ian Morton, Cock Lane resident and spokesperson for Hands Off Gomm Valley said "I voted for two District Councillors to represent me on the District Council at the last election. They represent a huge part of the area surrounding Gomm Valley that Wycombe District Council is proposing to destroy.

"Neither of them will be allowed to vote on whether this destruction goes ahead. Not one member of the cabinet is going to be affected by this decision.

"I would urge the leadership of the council to think again on this and ensure that they have a valid mandate to proceed with these plans."

The special cabinet meeting, scheduled for Monday, October 20 and is open to the public.