Wycombe Summit can re-open after row resolved

Snowdome Limited dropped its battle with Wycombe District Council over a 2009 planning application for the Abbey Barn Lane facility, closed after a 2005 fire.

It had taken the council to appeal – but at the 11th hour said it would go ahead with a 2007 application, which Wycombe District Council was happy with.

The firm was unavailable for comment this morning on the future of the facility.

Managing director Martin Smith previously warned the development could be delayed even if permission is won because of the ‘general economy coupled with the associated reluctance of the banking sector’.

The news comes after snowboarder Melanie Codling last month set up a Facebook group calling for it to be re-opened, which attracted more than 2,300 members.

She said today: “We are very pleased and we are looking forward to what is going to happen. Hopefully this paves the way for the development to begin.”

Miss Codling said she was ‘surprised’ the firm had ‘back-tracked’ but was thrilled the row had been resolved.

Wycombe District Council rejected the 2009 plan to widen the building over the training ski slope and introduce party rooms over a new skating rink.

Planning committee members said it would reduce a woodland and damage the character of the area.

The Planning Inspectorate based its findings on the 2007 plan which the council had some concerns over but ‘its benefits outweighed any shortcomings’.

The club house was destroyed in the 2005 blaze. The inspectorate’s report notes ‘widespread public support for the development’.

Anthony Davison, the inspector, found: “I am of the view that, while it might result in the site having a greater visual impact than at present, the development would not unduly harm the character or appearance of the area.”

They acknowledged its ‘relatively remote’ location and lack of public transport links but said a new small ice rink would make it ‘more attractive’.

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