Anger at ‘totally unnecessary’ stadium list for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps (From Bucks Free Press)

Anger at ‘totally unnecessary’ stadium list for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps

8:13pm Monday 26th July 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(11)

CONSERVATIVE council leaders were tonight slammed by a member of their own party for publishing an ‘totally unnecessary’ list of sites for a new stadium.

Wycombe District Council leaders were criticised for releasing a list of 19 potential sites for a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps (see bottom of story for full list).

It comes as a Bucks Free Press poll shows most who voted are against WDC putting cash into the scheme, to replace Adams Park.

Backbench councillor John Savage pointed to the inclusion of Little Marlow gravel pits for the 17,500 to 20,000 seater stadium.

A plan for a 264 seat ground for Marlow Football Club was rejected at the site following an appeal. This was ‘quite extraordinary’ he said.

Cllr Savage said tonight: “Why on earth come up with these sites?

“I am not a betting man but I would bet money on a lot of these sites not being suitable.

“It has already upset a section of the public and I think it is totally unnecessary.”

He also pointed to the Abbey Barn North site, at the High Wycombe end of Abbey Barn Lane, which had been rejected for housing over access fears.

Cllr Savage, a member for Flackwell Heath and Little Marlow, said: “I am in support of the project but just staggered at what has gone on.”

Cllr Jean Teesdale, cabinet member for planning, said: “It doesn’t actually mean they are feasible.

“The idea was to look at the land we know is available and assess to either say ‘no it is absolutely not possible’ or ‘yes, there is potential there’.”

She repeated comments made by head of planning Jerry Unsworth last week that some sites were ‘not sensible’.

See the link at the bottom of this story for our stories on the plans.

They would generate debate when the plan is consulted on with the public in the autumn, she said.

Bosses insist the plan would include facilities that would be open to the public such as indoor and outdoor sports pitches.

Wycombe Air Park is thought to be among the contenders for the site.

Cllr Teesdale said: “It is a really wide, broad brush. Of course there are a few in here we wouldn’t envisage going forward.”

The cabinet agreed to push ahead with the project tonight.

It also agreed that the council’s watchdog committee, the Improvement and Review Commission, will set up a group to ‘consider’ the project.

Council chief executive Karen Satterford said: “What we must go through is a process that is completely transparent so it is quite clear what we are going through.

“This isn’t a short list at this stage. It is a long list which will be whittled down.”

Cllr David Carroll said: “It has got to be transparent. It is all about confidence in our community.”

The authority has set aside £750,000 for studies into the plan and work to change its planning policy to allow a stadium.

Wanderers and Wasps owner Steve Hayes is contributing £250,000.

A ballot on The Bucks Free Press website found 70 per cent, 831 votes, said no when asked ‘Should Wycombe District Council be putting money into the stadium move for Wanderers and Wasps?’.

Some 355, 30 per cent, said yes.

The sites listed by the council:

1. M40 Gateway West (Cressex Island).

2. Abbey Barn South.

3. Abbey Barn South and land East of Abbey Barn Lane.

4. Abbey Barn South and RAF Daws Hill.

5. RAF Daws Hill.

6. Town Centre West (Baker Street).

7. Former Compair Site.

8. Adams Park Stadium & adjoining land.

9. Wycombe Air Park 10. M40 Gateway East (Handy Cross).

11. Marlow Gravel Pits.

12. Terriers Farm.

13. Gomm Valley.

14. Abbey Barn North.

15. Slate Meadow.

16. Park Mill Farm.

17. Land North of Longwick Road.

18. Land off Summerlease Road.

19. Land off Wooburn Moor.