Council leader: I'd live next to Hazlemere athletics track (From This Is Local London)

Council leader: I'd live next to Hazlemere athletics track

10:00am Thursday 3rd December 2009 in

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THE leader of a council pushing controversial plans to move an athletics track next to homes last night said she would be happy to live next to it.

Councillor Lesley Clarke spoke after Amersham Road resident Wanda Brown said house prices would fall by 15 per cent if the track moves to Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere.

Wycombe District Council wants to move the track from Wycombe Sports Centre, Marlow Hill to make way for a coach station.

Mrs Brown asked: "Would you be happy with the track in your back garden?"

When Cllr Clarke said yes and “it would be a lot better” Mrs Brown said: "Fine, buy my house then."

Cllr Clarke said the move was vital as WDC had to show the plan would work to Government to get £25m. The coach station to be ready for the 2012 Olympics.

She told the public meeting at Hazlemere Community Centre, Rose Avenue: "We all know the government is in dire financial state.

"It could be that the £25m won't ever be given to us which may push the moving of the track off the agenda."

The authority this week revealed it had altered its original plans for the Rose Avenue school (see link, bottom of story).

Revisions include removing spectator seating, reducing the pavilion size and moving it nearer the school and charging for “minimum” lighting to 9pm. It would open by 2011.

But residents remained unimpressed. Some laughed in dismay at Cllr Clarke and arguments by two council officers.

Kim Wyatt said: “All this evening we hear you want to bring business in. But there is a gross lack of services.

“None of us want this.”

Brian Mapletoft, of Hazlemere Residents’ Association, said: “They want to build a mini Crystal Palace on our field.”

Residents’ concerns were the increase in traffic, noise levels and light from the floodlights.

Mr Mapletoft said residents must give their views on the forthcoming planning application for the development. This will be decided by WDC’s planning committee.

He said: “First of all we fight planning. The proposal is full of holes.”

Community services boss Elaine Jewell said a traffic survey had been carried out and road chiefs would not approve it if it was not suitable.

She said the council considered other sites. These were: Holywell Mead; Kingsmead; Grange Farm in High Wycombe; Slate Meadow, Bourne End; Widmer End; Marlow gravel pits; the former Molins cigarette factory site near Princes Risborough; Four Ashes; Highcrest School and Queensway.