A REAL SNOW ski centre at Wycombe Summit could be in business by September 2008 if plans are approved this month.

The multi-million pound 14,000 sq ft development at the Abbey Barn Lane site, is set to be discussed by Wycombe district councillors by the end of this month.

Wycombe Summit was burnt to the ground in November 2005, but would reopen as Snowdome, with indoor slopes, ice rink and rock climbing.

It has been given huge public backing since plans were submitted in January.

Letters from residents supporting it have streamed into Wycombe District Council and environmental groups have been impressed with its sensitivity to the area.

Out of 80 people who took part in a public consultation last year, 63 backed the Snowdome while only two were against and 15 responses remained impartial.

Organisations including Sport England and Natural England have also given their backing.

Martin Smith, managing director of Snowdome Group Ltd, said: "We are delighted that the overwhelming majority continue to be enthusiastic about our proposed development.

"It's consistent with the feedback from the public consultation exercise. What is particularly encouraging is people have made the effort to write to support this, when it's usually people who want to complain about something who bother to write."

He added: "We're working hard on the next stage of development, working on the assumption that we will get consent. We have to work on that basis to start to put a plan together and source companies."

Concerns have been raised however by the Environment Agency (EA) which said there was no indication that enough water storage would be on site.

It said it is worried that there could be an increasing flood risk to the area around the dome.

The Chiltern Society made a u-turn on its original view of Wycombe Summit by choosing to give the plan its blessing. It praised its environmentally-friendly living' roof, made from a water-proof covering which allows plants to be grown on the top layer.

Robin Batute was a part-time snowboarding instructor at Wycombe Summit before the 2005 fire.

He said: "To replace the old dry slope facility with a new artificial snow slope, as well as other exciting amenities like an ice rink and climbing wall would be a huge benefit for the area."

But Sarah Hughes, managing director of Fresca, based at Abbey Barn Business Centre, claimed more traffic would put employees who cycle or walk to work in danger - unless better lighting and footpaths were provided.

She said: "Higher levels of traffic on Abbey Barn Lane will make these environmentally friendly modes of transport more treacherous."

Snowdome Group Ltd is set to give more information to the EA about drainage.