In September 2005, Wycombe District Council (WDC) published certain consultation documents regarding plans for High Wycombe and surrounding areas. (See link below for details.)

These documents contain proposals with the potential to have a major impact on Wycombe Wanderers (See page 4 of the document Imagine the Future Part 3 under the link to "More detailed discussion of the planning debate at Wycombe District Council" for these specific proposals):
1. That Adams Park could be taken out of the Green Belt;
2. That Abbey Barn South (see map below) could be developed for a mix of uses, possibly including business, housing and leisure/sport; and
3. That the potential development of Abbey Barn South include a stadium for the use of Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps.

Abbey Barn South is approximately 5 miles by road from Adams Park, to the South East and adjacent to the M40.

These proposals came to the attention of many supporters after the Bucks Free Press (BFP) published a story on this topic under the heading "Wanderers - on the move again?" on Friday 14th October 2005. (See links below to either the BFP website or a scan of the article.)

In reality, the WDC's consultation on these topics has been evolving for some time and any move to a new stadium is probably several years away. The proposal to remove Adams Park from Green Belt is viewed by WDC as correcting the anomaly of having a major stadium in Green Belt. Adams Park would still be an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and planning/development constraints would remain as a result. The potential development of Abbey Barn South to include a stadium for the use of Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps is one of four options that have been proposed and WDC's plans are evolving as they receive feedback from their public consultation. (For a more detailed discussion of the planning debate see the link below.)

Directors at Wycombe Wanderers Football Club PLC (WWFC PLC) have given Wycombe Wanderers Supporters Trust and Wycombe Wanderers Founders Trusts the following version of events:

There are no plans currently to relocate the football stadium. On Thursday 6th October 2005, a meeting was held between two directors of WWFC PLC, Ivor Beeks (Chairman) and Steve Hayes (Managing Director), and representatives of WDC. This meeting had been organised by the WWFC PLC to discuss issues relating to certain development options at Adams Park in advance of the WWFC PLC submitting any formal planning proposals. At this meeting the representatives of WDC mentioned their proposal that Adams Park be taken out of Green Belt and raised the idea that Wycombe Wanderers together with London Wasps might move to a new stadium at Abbey Barn South, in the event of the district plan proceeding as outlined in the documents published in September. This idea was reportedly a surprise to Mr. Beeks and Mr. Hayes.

On Tuesday 11th October, at the regular monthly board meeting of WWFC PLC, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Beeks informed the directors not present at the meeting with WDC - Brian Kane, Keith Blagbrough (Supporters Trust appointed director) and Ian Mather (Founders Trust appointed director) - of the possibility raised by WDC. Since there are no concrete proposals from WDC at this stage, no decisions were required or taken by the board of WWFC PLC Board although they broadly welcomed the idea that the WDC is willing to consider alternatives to the status quo.

The views expressed by WWFC PLC's Board can be summarised as: Removing Adams Park from the Green Belt should make it easier to obtain planning permission for developments at Adams Park, which can only be good for the Club. Any future move of the ground would need to be evaluated on its merits to the needs of Wycombe Wanderers Football Club.

The boards of the Supporters Trust and Founders Trust are actively monitoring these developments on behalf of our members and will be formulating a set of questions on this matter to ask the board of directors of WWFC PLC.

The boards of the Trusts are happy to receive questions from members that you would like the Trusts to put to the board of WWFC PLC. Email groundmove01@wwst.org giving your membership number or name & address plus the question you would like raised.

Founder Shareholders in WWFC PLC and the Founders Trust would have certain rights in the event of a proposal to dispose of Adams Park and/or move the ground.
Under the Articles of WWFC PLC any proposal to either dispose of the Club's interest in Adams Park or relocate the business and playing activities of the Club more than 5 miles from Adams Park would require a vote to be held amongst holders of Founders Shares.
For a either a disposal or relocation falling within these parameters to proceed, a majority of the Founder Shares voted would have to approve of the proposal.
A site at Abbey Barn South may be less than 5 miles from Adams Park but if any such move were accompanied by the proposed sale of Adams Park then the sale would require approval.

There are 500 Founder Shares that are held by a combination of those original Founder Shareholders, who remain eligible to hold them, and the Founders Trust which is the recipient of shares forfeited by Founder Shareholders.
Further clarification would be provided in the event that a disposal of Adams Park or relocation falling outside of the 5 mile limit were proposed.

If any changes were put to a vote of shareholders, the Supporters Trust would vote its 100,000 shares according to the direction of its members.

Both Trusts would have an influence on any WWFC PLC Board vote on changes through their two PLC directors.

The possibility of a ground move is likely to develop into a major issue in the coming months as it will impact the Club in a significant way and therefore will be of interest to all supporters. You are encouraged, subject to eligibility, to join both Trusts (see links below) in order that you might be better informed on this matter and also to ensure that your views are effectively represented in the debate and are used to influence any subsequent decisions.

	*** Join the Supporters Trust *** Click here for link to application details
	Founders Trust The Board of Wycombe Wanderers Supporters Trust urges everyone who is eligible to join Wycombe Wanderers Founders Trust in addition to joining the Supporters Trust - see here for links between the two Trusts
	More detailed discussion of the planning debate at Wycombe District Council
	The Bucks Free Press Article online
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