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LIB DEMS TO POLL ON STADIUM
(Tuesday 2nd March 2010)
Adams Park

Wycombe Liberal Democrat leaders are set to poll Wanderers supporters on their views of the proposed move to a 'Community Stadium' to be shared with current ground tenants London Wasps. A poll is planned before Wanderers' home game with Carlisle United on Saturday 6th March where spectators will be asked whether they are in favour of moving from Adams Park to a new shared facility at Booker and whether if they agree that Wycombe residents should help funding of the project through local taxes and/or thesale of publicly owned assets.

The news of the poll comes less than a week after a decison was made by Wycombe District Council leaders to progress with the stadium proposals and confirm allocation of £500,000 to resource progress of the the Core Strategy Alteration (CSA). A report prepared for the Cabinet said "Wycombe Wanderers Football Club and London Wasps Rugby Club share a constrained site which limits the scope of both clubs’ ambitions and does not reflect their potential contribution to the District’s profile, economy or community." The costs would include undertaking public consultation, which have been earmarked for October and November 2010, with the completion of the CSA estimated at July 2012, with the expected planning application to follow subject to Government approval of any modified Local Development Scheme.

Steve Guy, Parliamentary spokesman for the Wycombe Lib Dems, explained, "As part of the Liberal Democrat opposition on the Council it is our duty to question, probe and examine the plans being made by the ruling Conservative group and the owners of the Club." Guy added, "This is a large expensive development that is being undertaken and it can only succeed if all stakeholders are fully behind the plans. The most important stakeholder, the supporters of Wycombe Wanderers F.C. have to be supportive of the plans."

Critics of the proposals believe the 'Community Stadium' plans are being entirely driven by the perceived stadium needs of London Wasps. Capacity of the new stadium has been reported to be between 17,000 and 20,000, compared to Wanderers average home league attendances of 5,000, and suggestions that the move will bring any financial benefit to the football side remain unproven. Wasps have enjoyed greater attendances closer to the revised 10,500 capacity of Adams Park but Premier Rugby regulations to ensure a minimum capacity of 12,500 were dropped in May 2008, meaning the current Adams Park capacity is no longer a threat to Wasps' status as a Premiership side.

Onlookers are also pointing to the steamroller approach to the summer takeover of the Club and although consultation is part of the planning process, the proposals will almost certainly be portrayed by the Club spin machine as being the 'only option' and that any dissenters of the plans will be branded as 'lacking ambition'. However, this time around it will be more than Wanderers supporters who will need to be onside with this project as objectors from local political parties, local residents and other interest groups gather pace.

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