MAJOR plans to relocate Marlow Football Club might not be ready until August now but tests on the land earmarked for development have re-ignited a heated past.

Builders North West Estates has been looking to relocate the club from Oak Tree Road onto land east of the A404 Marlow bypass near Little Marlow for the best part of four years but has not yet submitted an application.

Last week the first signs that the proposal is close to submission were in full view.

On Tuesday, North West Estates started digging on the land to carry out borehole testing, to see exactly what the land is composed of.

Using a rig, they will dig eight boreholes over two weeks. Samples will be sent away for laboratory testing with engineers on hand to intervene and correct any parts of the land deemed "unsuitable".

Ken Fincken, of North West, said: "We are doing an analysis of the land to make sure it is suitable.

"This is a requirement of the Environment Agency."

The Free Press was contacted by several readers as soon as work started, who were curious to know what was going on.

Little Marlow Parish Council has renewed its opposition to plans for the green belt land.

Cllr Barbara Wallis said: "I don't think a football stadium is compatible with the green belt. A few football pitches where people can play are fine, but not the building that goes with it."

Cllr Wallis said that the council was preparing to fight plans, which are set for submission in the first week of August, and revealed it would be calling on the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) for support.

She also said that she felt "disappointed" that Wycombe District Council did not consider the possibility of plans for a country park instead.

However, the council said a park is still entirely possible.

The land, which includes the old gravel pits, was formally used as a disposal site for industrial waste.

The Free Press was given an insight into the new-look stadium in February.

It will house extensive community facilities, including and a third generation artificial turf pitch. Around 100 houses are planned for Oak Tree Road.