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STADIUM DEBATE HEATS UP
(Tuesday 26th October 2010)
Adams Park

With the first round of consultation due to end on Friday 29th October, the debate over the proposals for a new 'Community Stadium' to be shared by Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps have reached new levels of intensity with those 'for' and 'against' the schemes flooding the public domain with their angle of events.

Wycombe Sports Development Limited, the company set-up by joint owner Steve Hayes, have ploughed money into its launch of a dedicated website to help push their 'Who's Backing Booker' campaign. They've coupled this with targetted email shots and have also hit the public face to face with leaflets handed out at recent Wanderers and Wasps games plus similar tactics in High Wycombe town centre prior to Wasps' home game with Northampton on Sunday 24th October. Steve Hayes also wrote a letter to the Bucks Free Press outling why the project 'is vital to the future success and sustainability of both clubs'. This came after Hayes had criticised the 'noisy few' in another piece published on the Bucks Fress website on 28th September 2010 criticising comments made via the Bucks Free Press website and other internet forums, adding, They’re negative comments, they’re all the same people. Some of those people want to see Wycombe playing non-league football. That’s a fact."

However, the apparent strong arm tactics seem to have only increased the pressure from those opposing the scheme and from those simply wanting more information. Wycombe Wanderers Trust, a relatively quiet voice during the debate, have continued to press for the percieved fianancial benefits to the Football Club of any such move. The Trust met with WSDL Directors Steve Hayes and Mike Brooks on Thursday 21st October where the Trust claim, "Significant progress was made towards protecting the interests of WWFC in any proposed Community Stadium Project." An Emergency Trust Board meeting was arranged for Monday 25th October and a statement was promised for Wednesday 27th October but this has been criticised as being 'too little, too late'.

Elsewhere, a 'No to Booker' campaign has been instigated by a small group of concerned Wanderers supporters along with a dedicated website at notobooker.com. The campaign statement says, "Our ground, that the club owns would be sold and the money from that would be put towards the development of the new stadium and sports village. Wycombe Wanderers would go from Freeholders with a Tenant paying income to a Tenant with no income and no assets. This is not an acceptable position in our opinions." Those involved are planning a leaflet campaing ahead of Wanderers home game with Lincoln City on Saturday 30th October.

Unsurprisingly, the focus on the move to Booker has led to opposition from those who may be affected by the new site. A public meeting arranged by Lane End Parish Council brought widespread criticism of the proposals and a referendum is now planned on the subject by the Parish Council.

The Booker Common and Woods Protection Society have also arranged a public meeting scheduled for Wednesday 27th October to be held in the Main Hall at Cressex Hall, starting at 7.30pm where Councils officials are expected to be attendance.

Booking Gliding Club have also come out against the proposals and launched their own dedicated website at nostadiumatbooker.org.uk. They say, "Public money is already being wasted on this speculative private business venture. As well as harming the local area, it also destroys the home of one of the UK's top sport gliding clubs." A banner on their website also says "BUZZ OFF WASPS, NO STADIUM AT BOOKER, Keep it green"

One common thread between all parties, is to complete the consultation documents by Friday 29th October. Hard copies of the consultation brochure are available for viewing at the Council offices in High Wycombe, Marlow and Princes Risborough, as well as in libraries across the district. The documentation can also be read and downloaded from wycombe.gov.uk with an online response form also available. The survey, which has been accused of being bias in favour of move to Booker, now has a 'None' option with regards to the question 'what broad option you support' (Question 2) and 'to what site offers the best potential' (Question 4). Results from the consultation will be considered by the Council and after further technical work, the Council will decide how to proceed at a meeting expected for January 2011.

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