In September 2005, Wycombe District Council (WDC) published certain consultation documents regarding plans for High Wycombe and surrounding areas - See links below for details. These proposals include potentially removing Adams Park from Green Belt and, separately, the possible development of a new stadium at Abbey Barn South.
These proposals were published most recently as part of a WDC consultation process known as "Imagine the Future - Part 3".

The Trusts have become aware that the deadline for responses to the consultation is this coming Friday 4th November.

For the reasons explained below, the Trusts urge all supporters of Wycombe Wanderers to exercise their democratic right and respond on these matters.
For your response to register, however, THIS MUST BE DONE ASAP.
The Trusts have recently learnt that the deadline for responses will be extended to early w/c 7th November 2005.
** Please act now without delay. **

The mechanics of responding are explained below, but first here are a number of matters to consider.

Why should I respond to WDC?
WDC seek to act in the best interest of the community as a whole.
WDC can only judge the views of the community to the extent they receive feedback when matters are put out for consultation.

The Trusts understand that certain interested groups, such as Sands Residence Association, have replied to the request for feedback. This is their democratic right and the Trusts do not deny them this right, but the views of these groups may not be representative of the community as a whole. It is important that in order that WDC obtains a fully representative view that as many people as possible respond.

The proposals could be highly significant to the future of Wycombe Wanderers and its is important that the supporter base of the Club make their views heard in the consultation process.

What are the Trusts' views on these matters?
Imagine the Future - Part 3 covers many planning ideas that will impact different people in different ways.
The Trusts can not guide you on any issues other than those that impact Wycombe Wanderers.

Two matters that have a clear impact on Wycombe Wanderers are the proposal that Adams Park (referred to as Causeway Stadium in the Council documents) be removed from the Green Belt and that, separately, the site at Abbey Barn South be developed to provide housing, public open space and a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers/London Wasps and relocation of the Wycombe sports centre with all weather pitch and athletics track.

First the disclaimer: In view of the limited time that the Trusts have been aware of the consultation process, we have NOT been able to canvass our collective membership and thereby have NOT determined views that can be represented as that of our members. What follows, therefore, summarises the collective view of the majority of the Trusts' board members:

We are in favour of removing Adams Park from the Green Belt.
This will remove the anomaly of having a major sports stadium in Green Belt and should make obtaining planning permission for normal development a more straightforward and less costly process.
This should be good for the Club and its long term success.
Adams Park will remain in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and hence there will still be development controls.
Nevertheless the removal of the Green Belt status would be helpful.

The development of a new stadium at Abbey Barn South is far less clear cut.
Currently WWFC does not need a larger stadium.
Subject to planning permission, the expansion currently required by London Wasps could probably be achieved at Adams Park. The issue that will always exist at Adams Park is the restricted access via Hillbottom Road. Roads are expensive to build and, although additional access may be possible, this is unlikely to be an easy or cheap problem to solve.
At some point, the problems with restricted access MAY limit the progress of the Club.
A move to an alternative site MAY improve access and the future progress of the Club.

The financial cost of building a new stadium at Abbey Barn South may exceed the financial capability of WWFC. WWFC owns 100% of Adams Park and there would need to be VERY compelling reasons indeed for any change to this status to be in the best interest of the Club and hence acceptable to supporters.

There is much more that could and indeed will need to be explored on this issue but, on balance, it seems that the best that can be said for the Abbey Barn South development is that it should be explored further and a view taken on its desirability or otherwise when more information is available.

What if I disagree with these views?
Absolutely fine.
These views are a summary of varying detailed opinions that exist amongst the board members of the two Trusts.
The Trusts encourage you to exercise YOUR democratic right to express YOUR views to WDC on these matters.

What is the deadline for registering my views?
Originally this was Friday, November 4th 2005 but the Trusts have learnt that the deadline will be extended to early w/c 7th November 2005.
To participate, you must act fast!

How do I register my views?
There are four ways to register your views.
1. Link to the WDC website and fill in a response on line - see below for website link.
2. Link to the WDC website, download and complete a response form which you post to WDC - a copy of the response form in pdf format has been added to this website for your convenience.
3. Email Beth Wiseman with your views - see email address below.
4. Write a letter to WDC at "Beth Wiseman, Wycombe District Council, Freepost HY 120, Planning and Major Projects WDC63, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 1BB".
Both options 2 and 4 are Freepost and hence no stamp is required.

What do I say to express my views so that they are appropriately registered?
1. Give your contact details: name, address, telephone number and/or email address are all requested by WDC.
2. Reference the relevant IF3 documents and policies and make your comments.
WDC will retain your responses to different documents separately and hence it is helpful to send in two separate responses on the matters discussed above.
3. Green Belt proposal: the relevant IF3 document to reference is the "Draft Core Strategy", Page 36 and Policy 10.
If you are in agreement with the views expressed above, then the following comment should suffice: "I support the proposal to remove the Causeway Stadium from Green Belt as this removes a planning anomaly and recognises the reality of the location of Wycombe's major sporting stadium".
4. Abbey Barn South proposal: the relevant IF3 document to reference is the "Site Allocations Issues and Options", Page 17 Site GAE2 Abbey Barn South.
If you are in agreement with the views expressed above, then the following comment should suffice: "I support the further exploration of the sports and leisure uses as outlined under Option 4 in the M40 Gateway background paper. This is a viable option for creating a sports stadium for Wycombe Wanderers within the town, which has improved accessibility and parking when compared with the current location at Adams Park".

Notes:
The Trusts have been independently advised by one of their members, who is familiar with the workings of local authorities, that supporting the exploration of the Abbey Barn South option would not commit the Club to moving BUT the absence of exploring it, when it is the only option currently proposed by WDC that includes a potential relocation of the ground, may prohibit a future relocation even if it were to become obviously in the Club's interest. For this reason, the Trusts' boards support the wording above. At this stage the Trusts are neither in favour of nor rule out a future move. However, it is appropriate to encourage WDC to explore the options.

Further, the impact of identical responses is less than those that express the same sentiments in different words. Hence, if you can express the views above using your own words then it is better than simply repeating these words. Nevertheless, using these words will be more effective than not replying at all! Whatever you do, please respond to WDC on these matters.

Where do I obtain more detailed information on these topics?
For further discussion of these matters, see the links below to items published by the Trusts last week.

	Link to WDC's on-line response page
	WDC's reponse form as a downloadable pdf file
	Email Beth Wiseman
	Wanderers to move ground? The original background information as we have it.
	More detailed discussion of the planning debate at Wycombe District Council
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	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
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