Wycombe District Council may invest millions in new stadium
3:58pm Wednesday 27th January 2010 in News
Council may invest millions in new stadium
UPDATED 6.30pm.
COUNCIL bosses may ‘invest’ millions of pounds in a new stadium for Wycombe Wanderers and London Wasps.
Wycombe District Council has agreed in principle to meet a considerable portion of the costs for the replacement for the Adams Park stadium, mooted to move from Sands to Wycombe Air Park in Booker.
Cabinet minutes from November stated the authority would meet “most of the cost” of a new stadium and associated infrastructure up to an undisclosed sum.
Today the council stressed any move would be funded through selling other council land and would be an ‘investment’ rather than a payment.
The Bucks Free Press understands the council would be a major investor and that other parties are being sought.
The council will be looking to recoup some of its investment with rental and income share when the stadium is built.
However, a final decision has not been made and the amount of money to be spent has not yet been finally agreed.
Wasps and Wanderers owner Steve Hayes has said the rugby club could leave Wycombe if a new home is not found. He declined to comment.
But opposition councillor Trevor Snaith hit out at the proposals, which would cost the council millions.
The Liberal Democrat said: “Why should Wycombe District Council be subsidising a private individual, a millionaire?
“Steve Hayes has enough funds himself. If he loves Wycombe so much he should be spending that money for the benefit of the town.”
The Bucks Free Press understands the council sees this as a similar opportunity to the successful Eden shopping centre project which they also invested in.
The Ryemead councillor said: “I feel that money could be better spent in this current climate on more pressing issues like community centres or Holywell Mead pool.”
The authority closed the pool, by The Rye, in February to save £66,000 a year.
Councillor Tony Green, deputy leader of the council, had earlier told The Bucks Free Press: “It is an effort to keep the club in the town and give the town and district a facility it hasn’t got.”
The council would have a ‘degree of ownership’ by leasing the land to a stadium company, of which WDC would have a stake, he said.
The project would be a ‘community stadium, for the benefit of the community’ he said. Other facilities including cricket, hockey and indoor sports are planned for the site.
Buckinghamshire New University is also tied into the project.
And Cllr Green said: “It wouldn’t be the case that the club or owner could sell it on or make a profit at the council’s expense.”
The club has said the single-track road to Adams Park causes traffic problems and it cannot expand because of fears from emergency services over access and planning constraints.
And many residents in the area say they are fed up with the influx of fans, many of whom park outside their houses.
Land including the former Compair factory site in Hughenden, the park and ride facility at Cressex Island are among sites that could be sold for office or housing development to pay for the stadium, Cllr Green said.
The sale of the park and ride has caused massive controversy. The facility will be moved next to Wycombe Sports Centre with the athletics track planned to move to Hazlemere.
This has infuriated Hazlemere residents by the proposed track, for Sir William Ramsay School in Rose Avenue.
Comments(41)
Curlycurly
says...
4:29pm Wed 27 Jan 10
Come on Clarke when are you going to sling your hook? We are all waiting.
ferrellcat
says...
4:31pm Wed 27 Jan 10
I dont know if WWFC and wasps will make a success of it I hope they do but it will be a few years yet.But it will be hayes thats raking it in not WDC
KTinBucks
says...
4:41pm Wed 27 Jan 10
muffintop
says...
4:47pm Wed 27 Jan 10
ferrellcat
says...
5:30pm Wed 27 Jan 10
Hit me
says...
5:41pm Wed 27 Jan 10
...I'm off to buy a tractor - so I will have suitable transport to get there. Seems its the only form of transport capable of handling Wycombes roads...
Farmer Pickles
says...
5:51pm Wed 27 Jan 10
How about flogging off some land and reopening Holywell Mead pool.
Or selling off some land to build a new leisure centre like we were promised at the last election.
If this was all part of a comprehensive leisure strategy I could go along with it to some extent but the whole thing is a shambles. Chucking an athletics track here, closing a pool there, giving a few million quid away somewhere else.
I have lived in Wycombe for ten years and one thing I have learned is however shambolic, however corrupt and however undemocratic the local tories are people still blindly vote them in. Such a shame as this town could do so much better for itself.
Elmo
says...
6:24pm Wed 27 Jan 10
billsheppard
says...
6:27pm Wed 27 Jan 10
This ground isn't in the interests of WWFC, I haven't spoked to a supporter who doesn't have any reservations about moving there, the majority are dead-set against it, and could well spell the end for the club as they lose more and more income streams as well as potentially losing disgruntled fans who feel Hayes is using the club for his own ends and being tossed aside when we're of no use to him anymore, or indeed fans who are put off by watching their team in a barely quarter-full stadium.
And as tax payers we'll be lumbered with a white elephant that will just be lining the pockets of the rich and powerful that are well connected with local government.
As someone earlier said, Hayes must be laughing his knackers off if he can pull this daylight robbery off!
billsheppard
says...
6:27pm Wed 27 Jan 10
This ground isn't in the interests of WWFC, I haven't spoked to a supporter who doesn't have any reservations about moving there, the majority are dead-set against it, and could well spell the end for the club as they lose more and more income streams as well as potentially losing disgruntled fans who feel Hayes is using the club for his own ends and being tossed aside when we're of no use to him anymore, or indeed fans who are put off by watching their team in a barely quarter-full stadium.
And as tax payers we'll be lumbered with a white elephant that will just be lining the pockets of the rich and powerful that are well connected with local government.
As someone earlier said, Hayes must be laughing his knackers off if he can pull this daylight robbery off!
character1
says...
7:50pm Wed 27 Jan 10
Clarkey & her cronnies at it again.
Or perhaps thats why they need to sell off the Handy Cross site to developers. to help out their mate Hayes.
Incredible how Clarkey and her lapdogs are raping our district
Voyeur
says...
7:51pm Wed 27 Jan 10
.
It is not a safe investment.
.
It is putting a lot of property eggs in one basket.
.
WDC are still owed £3.5 million from Icelandic Banks which goes some way in demonstrating how to make a poor investment. There were warning signs in February 2008 about high risk Icelandic banks but WDC did not even try to get it's money out.
.
I have a feeling of "I told you so" coming on.
J B Blackett
says...
7:55pm Wed 27 Jan 10
.
So that's the reason why they are selling of all the town assets they can grab and having public-excluded meetings behind closed doors.
.
Well , what do you know ? Who would have thought it ? After all the miscreants regard it as THEIR MONEY not OURS.
DeepThinker
says...
8:49pm Wed 27 Jan 10
.
Remember how he has brown-nosed councillors for the last few years? Christmas presents, etc. There was lots said at the time but nothing happened.
.
I am sure that Mr Hayes has found a way of "compensating" councillors for this favour that will go under the radar.
.
Hayes will drop Wycombe Wanderers like a hot brick if he doesn't get the "investment" from the council. He and his mates will make money from the sale of Adams Park and he'll give" the club back to the supporters with £1 million. However the club will come with loaded with debt and no ground - unless they rent time in the new stadium from ..... Steve Hayes.
.
At times like this, when services are being cut left, rght and centre, there cannot be any justification for spending on this scale.
.
There is something very immoral and unethical about this. It may stop short of outright corruption, but this needs investigating fully.
wayneo
says...
8:59pm Wed 27 Jan 10
Bye then!!!
"Land including the former Compair factory site in Hughenden, the park and ride facility at Cressex Island are among sites that could be sold for office or housing development to pay for the stadium"
Told yer, selling the assetts to to pay for a stadium that benefits a Multi Millionaire, scandalous.
So what's Hayes going to do with the land from the WASPs Acton training ground then?????
What's hayes going to do with the Adam's Park land then?????
moosecl
says...
9:13pm Wed 27 Jan 10
wayneo
says...
9:37pm Wed 27 Jan 10
This is what's happened to YOUR club and the reasons why:
1)http://www.chairbo
ys.ndirect.co.uk/ont
henet/news0102/1mar2
002-rugby.htm
2)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0102/7mar200
2-rugby.htm
3)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0304/egm-29j
uly2004.htm
4)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0405/wasps-f
eb2005.htm
5)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0607/feb2007
.htm#PLC
6)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0405/hayes-m
d-29april2005.htm
7)
http://www.wwst.org/
wwst_news_press_stat
ement_re_SH_and_Wasp
s_20070824.html
8)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0809/stadium
_24june2008.htm
9)
http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/sport/23
22679.now_for_the_bi
g_job/
10)
http://www.wwst.org/
wwst_news_20081114_2
5percent_safeguard.h
tml
11)
http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/sport/wa
nderers/bluesnews/38
45862.Hayes_Let_me_o
wn_Blues/
12)
http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/sport/44
46629.Back_Hayes_or_
he_will_stop_funding
_club/
13)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0910/proposa
ls-june2009.htm
14)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0910/egm_not
ice-19june2009.htm
15)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0607/feb2007
.htm#PLC
16)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0405/budget-
17june2005.htm
17)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0910/25perce
nt-19june2009.htm
18)
http://www.chairboys
.ndirect.co.uk/onthe
net/news0910/trustme
eting-june2009.htm
19)
http://blog.owwsa.co
.uk/#post26
20)
http://www.bucksfree
press.co.uk/sport/lo
calsport/4875447.Cou
ncil_may_invest_mill
ions_in_new_stadium/
#commentsform
chris740
says...
9:50pm Wed 27 Jan 10
leave the council now .
while wycombe still has a chance to rebuild its self with a party who cares for the town ,
you lot have now shown what you are realy like con party in charge of our money
P.COLLINS
says...
10:29pm Wed 27 Jan 10
ie:The people of High Wycombe.
paulgd122
says...
10:50pm Wed 27 Jan 10
Wycombe does not need a 20, 000 seat stadium.
Wycombe Wanderers already have a perfectly adequate stadium. Why knock down a stadium which has only been up 20 years and is owned by WWFC.
Moving WWFC to a 20,000 seat stadium would likely see the end of a 125 year old football club.
Particularly one already heading back down to the 4th division.
London (notice that WDC) Wasps do not belong in Wycombe. There are better alternatives for them. Moving to a Stadium in ..er..London would be a good option and save the town from the influx of cars from London on a Wasps matchday. Alternatively, do WDC or BCC realise that there is already a 25,000 seat stadium in Bucks, in Milton Keynes, couldn't Wasps groundshare with the MK DONs FC ? Surely this option would save Wycombe tax payers a fortune, it wouldn't be too far for Wycombe based Wasps supporters to travel and would offer better transport links to/from London for their London/South East based supporters. This is also the greenest option as there would be no need to demolish a 20 year old stadium and other council owned property in order to help fund the new stadium.
OK WWFC would lose the rental income from Wasps, but then they will lose that and all ancillary income, by renting time to play in a huge soulless stadium.
WWFC staying at Adams Park, would mean a few less marketing suits being employed by the club to balance the books but that would be no bad thing either.
Only one person stands to benefit from these plans, that man is Mr Steve Hayes.
Please , people of High Wycombe, don't let these plans go through.
character1
says...
11:12pm Wed 27 Jan 10
the relocation of this district facility to the back water of Hazlemere. Do not let them split up OUR sports facility. Without the money they get from this ludicrous proposal they will surely have to think again
chairboy2
says...
11:12pm Wed 27 Jan 10
yog
says...
11:21pm Wed 27 Jan 10
He also sent her a Harrods hamper worth £160 and invited her to fireworks at his Chorleywood home last year."
Not a bad investment for Mr Hayes was it?
ferrellcat
says...
1:08am Thu 28 Jan 10
Click to reality Mr Green. Football is the stand alone sport above all others.You have no idea of the passion
BigTommy
says...
7:41am Thu 28 Jan 10
yog wrote:Those things are the ones that you can see.
Documents seen by the Bucks Free Press show Wycombe Wanderers MD "Steve Hayes bought council leader Lesley Clarke a silver frame featuring a picture of himself for Christmas 2008. He also sent her a Harrods hamper worth £160 and invited her to fireworks at his Chorleywood home last year." Not a bad investment for Mr Hayes was it?
.
I wonder if there are any other "gifts" that have gone under the radar.
.
There have been instances in the past where council work has been put out to companies run by former council employees. I wonder who will get the contract to build a new stadium.
.
Will any councillors or council employees have links with these companies?
.
Will Steve Hayes be able to put work (paid for by the council) the way of some of his business mates?
.
Steve Hayes has worked very hard to get into this position - a position where he can threaten to destroy the town's football team if he doesn't get his way.
demoness
says...
7:50am Thu 28 Jan 10
How can the Council be saying there is no money one minute and be selling family silver off and shutting things down, and then be investing in a new stadium?
Do they think we all take stupid pills or something? I would love one of them to come on here or even write a letter to the BFP to explain what the heck is going on in their heads instead of all this "la la la we are not listening" behaviour which appears to be what is happening at the moment.
Red Fred
says...
9:23am Thu 28 Jan 10
Ok, I know it's just a small time local rag, but it's High Wycombe's small time local rag and should be looking out for it.
So when some pumped up so and so, comes along threatening to take his money unless he stamps his feet and gets his own way, why are they not on the case like a proper reporting paper would be.
Come on BFP, put some b***dy pressure on these muppets and get some answers.
And as for taking his London Wasps away, we never asked for you, don't want or need you, and the sooner you are gone and stop holding WWFC to ransom, the better.
ferrellcat
says...
9:49am Thu 28 Jan 10
demoness wrote:Oh demoness its not a daft question.But I think you may be out of the loop on stupid pills. I take 2 every day. it helps me come to terms with outrageous statements from the council.I can put you onto a supplier if you so wish.They come with a wall chart with easy to follow "how to identify ****" instructions.Every time you hear some, just pop the pills and you believe.
I have to ask another one of my daft questions. How can the Council be saying there is no money one minute and be selling family silver off and shutting things down, and then be investing in a new stadium? Do they think we all take stupid pills or something? I would love one of them to come on here or even write a letter to the BFP to explain what the heck is going on in their heads instead of all this "la la la we are not listening" behaviour which appears to be what is happening at the moment.
Phredd
says...
11:01am Thu 28 Jan 10
I don't approve of WDC helping fund it though. Wasps/Wanderers are professional clubs. They are businesses. They should fund the development themselves.
If WDC feel the need to fund sports development they should be helping local amateur sports clubs improve facilities.
aspen g
says...
2:17pm Thu 28 Jan 10
9:23am Thu 28 Jan 10
What I'd like to know is what the BFP is doing about this story.
Ok, I know it's just a small time local rag, but it's High Wycombe's small time local rag and should be looking out for it.
So when some pumped up so and so, comes along threatening to take his money unless he stamps his feet and gets his own way, why are they not on the case like a proper reporting paper would be.
Come on BFP, put some b***dy pressure on these muppets and get some answers.
And as for taking his London Wasps away, we never asked for you, don't want or need you, and the sooner you are gone and stop holding WWFC to ransom, the better.
I completely agree with you. The reporting in this rag is shocking - its more like propaganda.
I never knew about any of this Steve Hayes dodgy dealings (thanks bloggers for keeping me up to date on all the corruption).
However, I'd rather have a good library services than helping defer risk from a millionaire.
SOMETHNG NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!
wulfie49
says...
2:47pm Thu 28 Jan 10
Personally, I can't wait to see just how bad the new council is, after the 2011 district election.
There are various people who are constantly accusing councillors of fraud and corruption, and calling for resignations. Mostly, it's because they hold different political views to the majority of the current council.
So that you know where to go for, Cllr Clarke represents Abbey ward, Cllr Green represents Amersham Hill & Terriers, Cllr McCarthy represents Hazlemere North and Cllr Cox represents Hazlemere South.
I want to see certain of the regular contributors to these columns standing for election themselves in these wards. You can stand as Independant, or try to be adopted by one of the established parties. Remember, the best way to change the things you don't like is from the inside.
But I'm not going to hold my breath!
None of these people will have the bottle to poke their heads above the parapet, as they would be letting themselves in for the same sort of abuse and accusations that they continue to throw around.
ferrellcat
says...
3:43pm Thu 28 Jan 10
aspen g wrote:Totally agree. How long has this money been ring fenced by Hayes and his business buddies on the council. the most astonishing part is that the council never consulted on this. Arrogance!
Red Fred, Bucks says... 9:23am Thu 28 Jan 10 What I'd like to know is what the BFP is doing about this story. Ok, I know it's just a small time local rag, but it's High Wycombe's small time local rag and should be looking out for it. So when some pumped up so and so, comes along threatening to take his money unless he stamps his feet and gets his own way, why are they not on the case like a proper reporting paper would be. Come on BFP, put some b***dy pressure on these muppets and get some answers. And as for taking his London Wasps away, we never asked for you, don't want or need you, and the sooner you are gone and stop holding WWFC to ransom, the better. I completely agree with you. The reporting in this rag is shocking - its more like propaganda. I never knew about any of this Steve Hayes dodgy dealings (thanks bloggers for keeping me up to date on all the corruption). However, I'd rather have a good library services than helping defer risk from a millionaire. SOMETHNG NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!
cressex blue
says...
3:46pm Thu 28 Jan 10
Property developers they may be, football developers - NEVER.
TELL THE COUNCIL THAT YOU DONT SUPPORT THIS STUPID WASTE OF MONEY.
character1
says...
4:06pm Thu 28 Jan 10
ferrellcat wrote:Even if WDC had a consultation on this issue they would not have taken any notice if the answer wasn't to their liking.
aspen g wrote: Red Fred, Bucks says... 9:23am Thu 28 Jan 10 What I'd like to know is what the BFP is doing about this story. Ok, I know it's just a small time local rag, but it's High Wycombe's small time local rag and should be looking out for it. So when some pumped up so and so, comes along threatening to take his money unless he stamps his feet and gets his own way, why are they not on the case like a proper reporting paper would be. Come on BFP, put some b***dy pressure on these muppets and get some answers. And as for taking his London Wasps away, we never asked for you, don't want or need you, and the sooner you are gone and stop holding WWFC to ransom, the better. I completely agree with you. The reporting in this rag is shocking - its more like propaganda. I never knew about any of this Steve Hayes dodgy dealings (thanks bloggers for keeping me up to date on all the corruption). However, I'd rather have a good library services than helping defer risk from a millionaire. SOMETHNG NEEDS TO BE DONE!!!Totally agree. How long has this money been ring fenced by Hayes and his business buddies on the council. the most astonishing part is that the council never consulted on this. Arrogance!
Take a look a any of the past consultations and you will note they only trumpet the ones that agree with their mad ideas. Which are very few. The rest they just brush under the carpet and ignore. Then set about fixing the out come at planning or any other meeting that has to vote on it.
WDC are corrupt through and through. Just look at the recent McCarthy-gate story. The people of Wycombe dont stand a chance with this lot in power
wayneo
says...
4:16pm Thu 28 Jan 10
wulfie49 wrote:Are you seriously suggesting that the electorate's only redress against bad leadership, malpractise or worse, is by becoming a Councillor themselves or by voting them out????? What twaddle.
This is not particularly about this news story, but some of the above comments have prompted me to vent my feelings towards several regular contributors. Personally, I can't wait to see just how bad the new council is, after the 2011 district election. There are various people who are constantly accusing councillors of fraud and corruption, and calling for resignations. Mostly, it's because they hold different political views to the majority of the current council. So that you know where to go for, Cllr Clarke represents Abbey ward, Cllr Green represents Amersham Hill & Terriers, Cllr McCarthy represents Hazlemere North and Cllr Cox represents Hazlemere South. I want to see certain of the regular contributors to these columns standing for election themselves in these wards. You can stand as Independant, or try to be adopted by one of the established parties. Remember, the best way to change the things you don't like is from the inside. But I'm not going to hold my breath! None of these people will have the bottle to poke their heads above the parapet, as they would be letting themselves in for the same sort of abuse and accusations that they continue to throw around.
It is our duty to scrutinise,expose malpractise or worse, Councillors expect and welcome scrutiny; If people make unfounded allegations then Councillors as individiuals have redress via the Courts if need be, where they can be cross examined under oath and open to the Civil Procedure rules of disclosure, as Councillors, they can make public statements to counter such allegations and argue their case. If I was accused of something that I hadn't done, I have a number of choices, come out fighting (and hard), ignore it or take legal action.
Unless people specify otherwise, you have no idea to to what their politics are, The Conservative party, implies that they are Conservative, there isn't a shred of evidence that they are conserving anything!!!
I do accept that there isn't enough praise where it is due and many Councillors are bloody hard working, often coming home to meetings after a hard days work etc. Of late however, there is either little to praise for or the message isn't getting out to people; there are decent Councillors out there, unfortunately the actions and vested interests of a few, bring the others into disrepute.
character1
says...
5:37pm Thu 28 Jan 10
But they do not. Why?
The decenct councillors have a much better view of the corruption that goes on all around them and can provide the evidence!!!!!
aspen g
says...
5:51pm Thu 28 Jan 10
Wayneo - you seem to know alot about these things (whereas I am ignorant) 2 things:
1. How do I as a HW resident voice my disgust at this (without getting thrown out of WDC).
2. You are my new hero :)
aspen g
says...
5:53pm Thu 28 Jan 10
bequia
says...
9:22am Fri 29 Jan 10
J B Blackett
says...
4:21pm Fri 29 Jan 10
.
Please note the number of developers and friends on Wycombe Council.
.
The Wycombe District Council (or should that be The Microbe Distant Clown Cell ?) , but in particular the Town, is THEIRS TO DO WHAT THEY LIKE WITH.
.
They have stolen it of us , the scoundrels - what a chaotic mess they have made and are still are making.
says...