Wasps' Stadium Plans Scrapped

PLANS for a stadium and sports village complex at Wycombe Air Park have been sensationally axed tonight.

Wycombe District Council leader Cllr Alex Collingwood, Deputy Cllr Arif Hussain, Cllr Audrey Jones and Cllr James Malliff put the brakes on the project.

It means Wycombe Sports Developments Ltd’s plan for a 17,500 capacity stadium and sports village at Booker is dead, as it stands tonight.

But just four Cabinet members were allowed to vote, due to the council’s code of conduct which prevents members with “personal or prejudicial interest” from voting.

It also meant cllrs who openly opposed the stadium in their canvassing for votes in May's elections were barred from casting their vote.

The 4-0 result was greeted with applause and roars of approval from the dozens of protesters from the Groups Against Stadium Proposals in the council chamber.

As it brings to an end GASP’s relentless protests, which culminated in hundreds of people marching through High Wycombe on Saturday.

Garry Nuttall, chairman of GASP, told the BFP he was “delighted” with the Cabinet’s ruling.

But pro-stadium supporters slumped out of the meeting with glum expressions.

It is also a blow to Steve Hayes, owner of Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps, who just minutes before the crunch meeting, made a public empassioned plea to cllrs to approve the plans (see links).

The decision is set to be debated on Three Counties Radio tomorrow morning and has kicked off a huge debate on the BFP website and Twitter.

beshocked wrote:I am little bit worried by this. Its shows that a bunch of Nimby's can crush a stadium bid with effortless ease.

beshocked wrote:Snoopster why in Northeast London? That's more Saracen's traditional hunting grounds. Also Saracens have the ongoing Barnet Copthall project.

Wasps have moved too far from where they were originally.

In my opinion Wasps should relocate to north west London. Easier said than done but Wasps need to become a London club again so they can sort out their finances.

BATH_BTGOG wrote:If wasps keep moving west it won't be long before they're classed as a west country team.

beshocked wrote:Actually snoopster I get all mixed up myself! Saracens' hunting ground is actually north London (not east) - basically Enfield and looks like now Barnet. Obviously Hertfordshire too.

Don't know why I thought Enfield was more east than it is.

I have changed my mind - Wasps should move to west london.

Don't want them too close to Saracens.

The "London clubs" and their former locations,current locations,hunting grounds etc is a huge muddle.

I think a fair summary is:

Saracens represent North London and Hertfordshire.

London Wasps represent Buckinghamshire currently but used to be based in north west London I think. Their history is confusing in my opinion.

Harlequins represent west London

London Irish represent Surrey and according to wiki have never properly been in London.