OPPONENTS of the Waitrose plan have submitted a formal application to the secretary of state, asking for it to be called in for a public inquiry.

The submission was made earlier this month by the town's Chamber of Trade after mounting frustration over the superstore giant's 56,000 sq ft plans in Riley Road.

Their actions were made public at a meeting last week of the Marlow Community Forum, where many interest groups are represented.

Rod Braybrooke, chairman, said: "The chamber have submitted a request for a call in on the subject and want everybody, as many as possible, to submit an application for a call in or support this application."

The submission was made following consultation with the chamber's own planning consultant, who sent the application to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE).

They hope that by making the call early on, even before a planning decision is made by Wycombe District Council, that the secretary of state will then take it out of the hands of the council and hold the inquiry first.

But despite members of the forum choosing to back the call some expressed concerns over its timing and said it might pre-empt the actual planning decision by the council, due in September.

Ron Waters, of the Marlow Society, said: "What we are doing by making a call is marking the card of the secretary if it is approved.

"It seems to me there is little point in asking for a call in before there is a meeting of the council before the council are recommended to do something or even refuse it."

Bob Savidge, also of the society, added: "Should the council approve it and it is still against the local plan, that is the time to call it in.

"To call it in now might just be premature."

Meanwhile, the district council has made special arrangements for the development control meeting in September, which will decide the fate of the Waitrose plans. It will take place at 7pm on Monday, September 12 in the Shelley Theatre, Court Garden.

It is the first occasion in several years since such a meeting has taken place outside High Wycombe.