Dominic Grieve MP opposes Marlow FC stadium plan (From This Is Local London)

Beaconsfield MP Dominic Grieve opposes Marlow FC stadium plan

2:40pm Friday 8th January 2010 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

MP DOMINIC Grieve spoke out against controversial plans to move Marlow Football Club today – saying he has “not received a single letter of support” for the proposal.

A planning inquiry is currently looking into the plans, which include building a new stadium at Little Marlow gravel pits and replacing the club's current ground with 93 homes.

Mr Grieve, who represents Little Marlow, told the inquiry: “I do not think it is surprising...that the proposal to erode the area of the park for development purposes is greeted with considerable hostility within the local community.

The gravel pits are part of the Green Belt, but the football club and their sponsors North West Estates say there are “very special circumstances” for building a new stadium there, which would also cater for youth teams.

But Beaconsfield MP Mr Grieve said: “It seems to me...that the proposals that have been put forward here in this planning application go a long way beyond the creation of football pitches with minimal infrastructure that one might envisage as acceptable.

“It understandably raises concerns amongst the community that this is all, in fact, part of an incremental nibbling away of the Green Belt at this location for the purposes of developing it.”

He said local residents want to see the land transformed into an “attractive country park”.

He added that correspondence from individual residents has been “minimal”, though none had supported the plans. He said Wycombe MP Paul Goodman had received “a far greater number” of letters opposing the move.

The club are desperate to move from their “ageing” Oak Tree Road ground, which they say is limiting their ambitions.

Trevor and Christine Hunter live next to the ground and also addressed the inquiry this morning.

Mr Hunter called for the club to re-develop the current ground while Mrs Hunter said residents are worried the density of the planned 93 homes will create a “ghetto”.

Mike Overall, coordinator for the Little Marlow Gravel Pits Community Partnership, also spoke to oppose the plans.

Representatives from the club will speak at the inquiry next week. The hearing is open to the public and will continue on Tuesday.

See links below for background information.