BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Council has been criticised for its decision not to designate a large part of greenbelt land as a country park with potential mass development looming.

The proposals to create a country park in Marlow were first made in the 1960s but it was not agreed upon until 2017 when the former Wycombe District Council provided one on Coldmoorhome Lane.

However, the area, set to be named Little Marlow Lakes Country Park, was never officially designated as a country park by the former council.

The area of land has remained under multiple ownerships, with Bucks Council only looking after around 16 per cent.

The council’s cabinet met last week to discuss the formal designation of the land.

It was unanimously decided by senior councillors not to pursue formal designation for the whole area but to instead pursue formal designation of the land that the council owns.

A report presented at the meeting said that the local plan adopted by Wycombe District Council allocated the whole area as a country park.

Cllr Peter Strachan, who presented the report, pointed out that the land "is not a country park" as he urged colleagues to back the proposals.

He said: “It is quite clear to me from the emails and the social media campaign that has been surrounding this that many people in that area actually think at the minute that that piece of land is a country park.

“It would seem to residents of Marlow and Marlow Bottom that we are trying to take something away because they believe this is a country park.

“This is a very complicated picture and reaches right back to the legacy of Wycombe District Council

“The report before cabinet sets out a practical solution to a long-term problem that has not been addressed.”

A number of development applications have been submitted to the council on the land in question, including a film studio just off the A404 on former gravel pit land.

Cllr Gareth Williams asked for clarification on whether the vote would not “‘alter the planning landscape”.

He said: There has been a lot of linkage and suspicion around that, that we are somehow rushing something to give a green light effectively by a back door to a development on that site.

“Can we clarify that by agreeing on this today we are not changing or altering the planning landscape around that application and that the greenbelt still remains the same and that we are not removing any enhancement of planning protection on this current site?”

Council officer Steve Bambrick responded by saying: “The recommendation on the report states do not seek to and cannot alter the allocation in the local plan.

“There are no changes that could result in anything decided today to any of the current planning aspects of this area.

“Any application whether for the film studio or others will still continue to be considered on the basis of what’s contained in the local plan.”

Cllr Strachan also told the meeting that the land owned by the council would be a sufficient enough green space for residents and would meet requirements set by Heritage England.

A website and social media account have been created for Little Marlow Lakes Country Park.