Buckinghamshire Council has responded to claims that their decision over Little Marlow Country Park was influenced by property developers.

The proposals to create a country park in Marlow were first made in the 1960s but it was not agreed upon until 2017 when the former Wycombe District Council provided one on Coldmoorhome Lane.

However, the area, set to be named Little Marlow Lakes Country Park, was never officially designated as a country park by the former council.

The area of land has remained under multiple ownerships, with Bucks Council only looking after around 16 per cent.

It was unanimously decided by senior councillors not to pursue formal designation for the whole area, however, there have been calls for the decision to be reviewed.

A number of development applications have been submitted to the council on the land in question, including a film studio just off the A404 on former gravel pit land.

Save Marlow's Greenbelt believe that the council cabinet has been influenced by approaches made by property developers.

Buckinghamshire Council has said that there was "no inappropriate influence".

Councillor Peter Strachan, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration said: “As developers queried the legal status of the council’s earlier decision, the council decided to seek independent legal advice.

"This advice informed us that the statutory framework has not been complied with, and so the decision made by Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet on 11 October 2022 seeks to regularise the unfinished work of the Former Wycombe District Council.

"There has been no inappropriate influence regarding these decisions.”