AN EMPHATIC straw poll ‘No’ vote by Land End residents landed the decisive blow in a stormy parish meeting regarding the Wycombe Community Stadium plans.

More than 250 people squeezed into the Youth and Community Centre for the hastily-arranged assembly as council chief Jerry Unsworth tackled people’s concerns.

The gathered audience vented its anger that the village – which lies just one kilometre from the shortlisted Wycombe Air Park site – was not consulted earlier.

And after a heated question and answer session just two people raised their hands in favour of the controversial Booker site.

“Despite meetings in Princes Risborough and Marlow, there were no plans to consult us,” said parish council vice-chairman, Michael Detsiny.

“We were not on the formal circuit, yet we would be wiped out by this – Lane End would cease to exist.”

The argument that if a new stadium was not built London Wasps would be forced to leave the district was drowned out by cries of “Good riddance”.

Mr Detsiny added: “This has been totally driven by Steve Hayes (Owner of London Wasps and Wanderers). I bet that if the club decided to move elsewhere this would all stop immediately.”

One spectator argued that Wasps were “holding a gun” to the council’s head in order to force the decision through.

But WDC’s head of planning, Mr Unsworth, battled accusations that the public meetings were a “sham” after London Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers announced last week they were “backing Booker”.

He insisted that nothing had been decided and it was still very much up to the public to vent their opinions and assist the consultation process.

District councillors Jean Teesdale and Ian McEnnis asked those present to make their feelings known in the opinion forms provided.

Speaking after the meeting, former headmaster and resident Andrew MacTavish, said: “There is a strong feeling that these consultations are merely paying lip service to the people and that a decision has already been made.”