Snowboarder faces council over Wycombe Summit
10:54am Sunday 28th February 2010 in News By Oliver Evans
A COUNCIL chief defended her authority’s opposition to a ski slope plan after being quizzed by the founder of a Facebook group campaigning for it to re-open.
Councillor Jean Teesdale said Wycombe District Council was right to throw out a plan to re-open Wycombe Summit, closed after a 2005 fire.
Its fate now lies with an independent inspector.
She said the re-development plans built too far into nearby woodland at Abbey Barn Road, giving councillors ‘significant concerns’.
Cllr Teesdale, cabinet member for planning, said: “I hope, I think we all hope a satisfactory solution be found.”
Snowboarder Melanie Codling told Cllr Teesdale the plan ‘appears to have the public’s backing’ with more than 2,100 members of the Facebook group.
She said: “Surely developing this site, which is currently a depressing eyesore would be in the best interest of our council?
“The benefits that could be reaped from approving this project would not only be in the interest of the community of High Wycombe, but would also provide opportunities for local businesses and schools and could help to promote and encourage sports and fitness all year round.”
The appeal will be heard by the independent Planning Inspectorate on March 16 the council’s offices in Queen Victoria Road. The public are welcome to attend.
Click the links below to visit the Facebook group and read Miss Codling’s speech to the council.
Comments(10)
Seasence1
says...
12:56pm Sun 28 Feb 10
"independent inspector" for ski slope out in the middle of no where and have "significant concerns" for a bit of woodland !! has she not noticed wycombe is full of woodland !
i think we should put this lady in charge of planning for the athletics track at Hazlemere and see what she makes of that, as no one on the planning commity has "significant concerns" for the local residents or the extra traffic there !
I think they should build a running track and a ski slope on the old site site !! problem solved !
carol_f
says...
2:00pm Sun 28 Feb 10
OllieNewbury
says...
2:25pm Sun 28 Feb 10
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Come on WDC. Let us have our ski slope back! I loved going there.
bakerbill
says...
3:41pm Sun 28 Feb 10
library opening hours face an axe of an average 10 per cent , they refused government funding for free admission for over 60s and aged under 16 to public swimming in the town ,They also cut funding for a lot of other important services too . We were told at the time the cuts were necessary because of shortages of money. This ski facility won't costs WDC , in fact it will pay them business rates and provide many jobs for local workers .
Voyeur
says...
4:05pm Sun 28 Feb 10
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It is not even a change of use - there was a ski slope on there previously!
iranianyouth
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4:10pm Sun 28 Feb 10
Slimster
says...
5:39pm Sun 28 Feb 10
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They're about to knock down half the woodland to build a new housing estate up by the RAF base anyway.
A VOTER
says...
9:59am Mon 1 Mar 10
That's how the system works at WDC & BCC...
Agniesca
says...
10:53am Mon 1 Mar 10
BigTommy says...
11:10am Sun 28 Feb 10
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What about a £50 consultation? Not even that.
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Surely Councillor Teesdale must have a friend that she could employ as a consultant to do a study, or is the planning committee taking the decision without any sort of proper consultation or proper study?
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It's not like the council are being asked put any of OUR money into the scheme.
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"Significant concerns" ... There is obviously no profit in this for councillors and their friends so the scheme doesn't even warrant a proper study.
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Maybe the developers should start giving Councilor Teesdale Christmas presents and inviting her to functions. This seems to be the way to do business with this council. They might even stump up £500,000 for a study and earmark £3.5 million for development.