THE Waitrose buy-up is the latest twist in fate of the Portlands Alley site but is unlikely to be the last, according to Wycombe district councillor Maurice Oram.

Cllr Oram (Lib Dem, Marlow South) said: "It has been allocated as housing in the Local Plan so what Waitrose has got in mind I have no idea."

He suggested that if Waitrose wanted to do something else with the site it would have to object to the council's plan and it would then go to public inquiry.

The three-and-a half-acre site off Portlands Place, is commonly known as Portlands Alley.

Five years ago, plans for a 45,000 sq ft Tesco on the site were dropped in the face of strong opposition.

Bushbuy development consultants revealed new plans last year to develop the site and build a supermarket and car park with water areas.

The ideas did not reach the planning stage.

CHL Cache Holdings Ltd, which owned the land, then completed the sale of the site to Waitrose on Wednesday last week.

Former Marlow Mayor Michael Bowater said: "I think it's a retrograde step.

"Everyone has been against a supermarket.

"We always said the last thing we wanted on the site was a supermarket.

"I am totally and absolutely against it."

Peter Diplock, chairman of Marlow Society, said the latest application by Waitrose will certainly come under scrutiny but said it was early to comment on details.

He said the society would particularly look at the traffic implications of building a larger supermarket.

He said: "Until we know what the plans are it's difficult to say what the Marlow Society view is.

"We are interested to hear what has happened to the site and we will reserve our comments until we know what the proposals are.

"The traffic implications will be important.

"For the moment it's 'watch this space'."

He added that he was not surprised by the news.

"I would have thought that the present Waitrose site is looking tired and small compared with other Waitrose branches.

"If Waitrose want to remain competitive then I would not be surprised if they wanted to improve their site."

Mr Diplock said the issue of what happens to the present store would also be important.

Bill Purdie, of Marlow Society, said: "It could be a lot worse, it could have been somebody else.

"If they are going to have an underground car park it would be an asset. The only worry is, what happens to the existing shop?

"Obviously they are stuck for space but in the end they are established in Marlow and have shown they can be particularly reasonable on the planning side."

Waitrose said it believes the site is suitable for a relocation of the current branch.

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