A FURORE has broken out after an apparent u-turn by Marlow town councillor June Coleridge over the Waitrose expansion plans.

In a letter to the Free Press last week Cllr Coleridge urged people to give Waitrose a fair hearing at the development control meeting in Marlow in two weeks time.

It wants to build a 56,000 sq ft store in Riley Road and West Street, Marlow.

Cllr Coleridge's letter has caused a stir among fellow councillors because she voted against the application at a meeting last year.

But last week she wrote: "I believe that Waitrose has a good track record of sound design and that their proposal deserves better than simply saying no change under any circumstances'."

This has led to some people believing she is changing her mind on Waitrose.

Fellow Conservative party member and Marlow town councillor Doug Anson said: "She appears to have forgotten that she was one of those who voted unanimously against the new applications at the meeting last April."

He said the new applications were essentially the same as the previous ones which were "comprehensively rejected" by WDC in September.

And he reiterated the town council's opposition to the plans and said he hoped district councillors would reject the new plans too.

Richard Scott, chairman of the Marlow branch of the Conservative Party, said Cllr Coleridge's position did not reflect a split in the party's view on the issue.

He said: "I noted the extracts of a letter signed by Cllr June Coleridge published in last week's Marlow Free Press.

"These were personal views and do not necessarily represent those of all our members."

Even Helical Bar, a developer that has submitted a rival bid to develop the Waitrose site, has expressed "great surprise" at the content of Cllr Coleridge's letter.

Stephen Padmore, development manager for the Helical Bar project, said: "I was very surprised that such a respected person came out with a statement that seems to contradict her former position on the subject."

Mr Padmore said if the Waitrose application was rejected Helical Bar would proceed with its application to develop the site.

Cllr Coleridge was unavailable for comment. However, a former colleague has defended her statement.

Mervyn Buston, of Herons Place, Marlow, served as a school governor with Cllr Coleridge.

He said it was time the town had a decent sized food store and argued that Waitrose should be allowed to trade unhampered by planning restrictions. He congratulated her for her views.