MORE rebel Tories came forward last night to openly oppose Wycombe Air Park as the site for a new community stadium.

Major doubts were raised about the choice of the location in Booker, Great Marlow, by Conservative members at Wycombe District Council's Cabinet meeting.

Although the Tory Cabinet agreed to move to the next stage of the project, which could pave the way for a planning application, the plans were heavily criticised.

Cllr Dominic Barnes, elected to the Great Marlow seat in July, joined fellow Tories Ian McEnnis, Jean Teesdale in blasting the scheme.

Tory Cllr Alex Collingwood was involved in a frosty exchange with Leader Lesley Clarke, over his scrutiny committee's findings.

Independent Cllr Malcolm Blanksby also hit out.

He joined the Liberal Democrats in alleging the public consultation had been 'seriously flawed'.

Cllr Blanksby said none of his constituents knew about it and criticised the council for not publicising it through its own free magazine delivered to households.

He said the response from Marlow showed it was not widely circulated.

Criticising the fact the decision was being taken by Cabinet – comprising eight members - as opposed to the full council with 60 - he said: "In May 2007 we were all elected on an equal footing we are representing our local residents. That's not democratic and not transparent.”

Lib Dem Cllr Steve Guy said: “As Cllr Blanksby pointed out, the stadium is going to be built in Marlow yet so few people in Marlow responded to the consultation."

Cllr Barnes, who worked on the Task and Finish Group, said his constituents are fully against the move and told the meeting: “I implore the cabinet not to put it at the air park.”

Speaking about the issue of inadequate transport infrastructure, Cllr Barnes said an M40 junction was a 'no go' and added: “I think the whole application would fall apart without the access road.”

A possible access road through Marlow Bottom would be used as a “rat run” and leave people “up in arms”, he said.

Cllr Teesdale said while it was "laudable" the council investigated such projects, the whole process had been "muddied" when the clubs came out in favour of the air park.

She said: “I thought this totally unfair, you can't be surprised now that people are sceptical about the outcome.

“This has personally caused me a lot of anguish. I don't like to be in a position where I disagree with my colleagues but my prime concern is to the people I represent in this area.”

Deputy Leader Cllr Tony Green said: “There seems to be a common theme about the consultation being flawed. I suppose you can say that about the consultation if you don't agree with it, you can find an argument to say it's flawed.”

He said the 8,400 responses made it the biggest ever and it was an industry-standard consultation.

“Your constituents didn't know there was a consultation? Given the publicity received in the local newspaper and website and the public meetings in the districts I'm very surprised.

“I have never thought your constituents ill-informed. I do find that very strange.”

He said the Cabinet system was Labour Government legislation.

But he said: “There is no way this cabinet could push through a decision of this magnitude if the majority of the members of this council didn't agree with it.”

He added: "We don't know yet what enabling development is required or what road infrastructure is required surely it's reasonable to cross each hurdle at the time. If we can't then this will not go ahead I agree with you.”

On the accusation Booker was a 'done deal' all along, Cllr Green said: “It isn't. This is the first of a number of decisions that have to be made.

“Please let me assure you that there is a lot of work to be done and all members will be involved with that in one way or another.”