THE issue of the proposed new community stadium has caused more controversy and debate than just about anything we can remember in the last few years. That is why the Free Press today is inviting readers to take part in our own survey.

True, there has already been a full council consultation on the subject which has garnered more than 8,000 responses, and which indicates Wycombe Air Park is the public’s preferred location – but large sections of the community have been left dis-satisfied by it.

Naturally, supporters of the consultation will say that criticism of such a process is the natural reaction of anyone who doesn’t like the outcome.

So it is worth us simply just referring to the verdict of Alex Collingwood, a member of the ruling Tory group who is chairman of the scrutiny committee.

“We thought that the consultation was okay but it wasn’t deep enough,” he told fellow councillors this week.

The main valid criticism of the consultation in our view is the narrow scope of the questions which did not give an obvious opportunity to oppose the plan as a whole, apart from the option of choosing to stay at Adams Park.

Too little information was supplied in many people’s view and, of course, a sample of 4,270 (the local feedback in the consultation) in a district of more than 160,000 is arguably not representative – although some market researchers would give their eye teeth for such a large sample.

Today’s survey in the BFP is not intended to be an alternative to this consultation, because we do not profess to have the scientific expertise to run such an exercise. It is an attempt by us to give you an opportunity to comment in more detail.

Even before it was published, it was criticised in some circles as not being thorough enough and going over old ground. But we are never going to please everybody, and there is plenty of scope in our survey for readers to make their views known.

The BFP maintains a position of neutrality on this issue on behalf of our readers because it is more important for us to bring you all the information rather than try to influence you.

As you can see, the council has today paid us to bring you a three page advertisement feature around the front of this paper. Some critics will no doubt say we should have turned this down on the grounds it is taxpayers’ money.

Others will accept we are also a commercial organisation which abides by advertising standards that dictate we should not reject a customer on the grounds that some readers do not agree with how it is spending its money.

The most important thing for us is to engage as many of you in this issue. We want to hear your views and we will feed them back to the people who matter.

The proverbial fat lady has not yet sung on this stadium issue, so fill in our survey and help the authorities to get into tune with your opinion.