MP says decision puts Little Marlow Lakes Country Park 'at risk'

The Beaconsfield and Marlow MP made a statement on the controversial decision not to designate a large part of greenbelt land as a country park earlier this week.

She argued that “abandoning its designation and protection will place the area at risk of unsuitable speculative development.”

Since making the statement, Buckinghamshire Council has rejected a call-in of the decision that would have seen it head back to cabinet to be looked at again.

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 statement from Joy Morrissey MP reads: “The presence of Little Marlow Lakes Country Park in my constituency is a boon for which I am immensely grateful.

“This beautiful area of land is worth preserving, is of great value to local people and is an integral part of mitigation for ongoing development projects.

“Abandoning its designation and protection will place the area at risk of unsuitable speculative development, such as the Marlow Film Studio project.

“It will require reassessment of ongoing developments that rely on the park for mitigation.

“Most importantly, it will risk the future of what could be a fantastic community asset that, if managed well, with strong local input, could become a jewel in the county crown.

“I would suggest that the following should be considered in taking this matter forwards:

“1. A further legal opinion should now be sought to determine whether the former WDC legal advice is correct or the recent BC legal advice is correct. It is important that the differences between the legal advice to the former WDC and that given to Buckinghamshire Council are properly discussed at the call-in meeting.

“2. Meaningful local representation, including local Members, on a project board to be set up to determine the future of the Country Park.

“3. All future decisions concerning the Country Park to be consistent with the 1968 Countryside Act. I would only support small scale developments for outdoor recreational purposes in the area provided by Wycombe District Council in 2017 as a Country Park. They should be subject to the land being Green Belt, subject to policy RUR4 as per the Local Plan and recognising that the land is adjoined by an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“Our green spaces are precious and under enormous pressure from speculative development.

“Places like Little Marlow Lakes Country Park are part of our bulwark against urban sprawl, they should be given all the protection and support we can muster.”