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Marlow Football Club's stadium bid rejected

4:46pm Monday 22nd February 2010 in


A BID to build a new stadium for Marlow Football Club on Green Belt land has been thrown out by The Planning Inspectorate.

Sponsors North West Estates had struck a deal with the football club to build a new stadium at Little Marlow Gravel Pits and turn their current Oak End Way ground into 93 homes.

Wycombe District Council rejected the plans last year and planning inspector Ken Barton upheld the decision today after a six-day appeal hearing in January.

He ruled the new 264-seat stadium would be “inappropriate development in the Green Belt” and would “erode the gap” between Marlow and Little Marlow.

Marlow FC and North West Estates had argued there were “very special circumstances” for building the new ground, which would have provided one home for more than 500 youth playerS, as well as the senior teams.

Mr Barton accepted the new ground would be of “definite benefit” to the football club but said the location would “not be as convenient as the current ground”.

He said it would have a “significant detrimental impact” on the surrounding area and found that “very special circumstances” do not exist.

Both plans were dependent on each other and Mr Barton said the proposed 93 homes at the current Alfred Davis Stadium would result in a “hard urban landscape dominated by cars”.

He found both plans were contrary to the aims of various local plans.

For all the reaction check back to the website and see Friday's Marlow Free Press. See links below for more stories on the plan and the full decision notice.

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Comments(6)

sportsturf says...
7:13pm Mon 22 Feb 10

although i am a marlow born and bred lad, and i whole heartedly support Marlow FC's plight for a new ground, i have to say this decision was a good one....A), the proposed ground would have been too much of a blotch on the few green spaces we have around marlow, and B), NWE would have been mad to try and put 93 homes on the small plot of the original ground, it just would not work, maybe if the inspectorate granted permission for say 30 to 40 homes there, on the condition that parking was confined to the plot and didnt encroach onto existing roads, but then NWE would not have the potential profit forecast to support the new stadium.....this is how these projects work,...now we have to try and support our football club to develope what we have here already...unless a more suitable plot can be found locally...

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BOGITS says...
7:27pm Mon 22 Feb 10

I cant say I am suprised at this decision but I cant wait until another situation develops like this in Marlow and its accepted. There will as we know be those who will not fight certain planning applications for housing and others who will just jump on the bandwagon just to get themselves noticed, certain organisations etc etc. So will all those who suggested other area's now come forward and support those so called other places to go, some suggested near pound lane others stated Long Ridge? Well lets see if those places suggested are going to be objected to- of course they will the usual NIMBY'S. I look at how the Wasps and Wycombe Wanderers will now proceed?? touchy subject now isnt it going to an Airpark? I cannot see this happening unless the airfield is closed due to safety concerns while having a potential disaster on its doorstep if the airfield is kept open. No doubt the usual council tax payers of Marlow will fund the pre inspect amounts to assess the place and fill someones pocket in doing so. I dont want them there either!!! So all of you lot just remember what your paying for when this all goes ahead while the likes of our Hospitals are closing due to lack of money, well seems they have an amount to use of ours for other reasons and no exactly life saving is it.

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ivor says...
9:08pm Mon 22 Feb 10

If the powers the be can reject this proposal they surely ought to reject the proposal for the unnecessary stadium at the aerodrome.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “YOUR SAY” link at the top of the page then click on “BLOGS”.

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DeepThinker says...
9:09am Tue 23 Feb 10

ivor wrote:
If the powers the be can reject this proposal they surely ought to reject the proposal for the unnecessary stadium at the aerodrome. ~ Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “YOUR SAY” link at the top of the page then click on “BLOGS”.
It depends on who will gain financially and who their friends are!

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Mr Methane says...
6:25pm Tue 23 Feb 10

The tragedy of this decision is that it will impact future generations of Marlow youngsters who at present are failed by WDC. Their provision of local pitches in Marlow is shambolic and disjointed. Gosmore is out of action for a long time. I and many other coucil taxpayers in Marlow will be closely watching how much assistance is given to Wanderers and Wasps. These are privately owned concerns that WDC is bending over backwards to assist. Let Wasps leave the area if they want. They are not a local team and do not merit public subsidy. Marlow FC's move involved no public finance. Shame on all those involved in this decision. Any councillor who voted against this decision originally or in future votes any cash to the Wasps move will never get my vote again.

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sparky49 says...
6:42pm Tue 23 Feb 10

I must say I am not surprised at this decision. What will happen to Marlow FC now? No money to do up the current ground and no planning permission to go elsewhere. will Marlow FC be around in 5 years time, I personally don't think so, there is no money around for football clubs at present. It will be interesting where NWE go now.

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