Wisbech Town’s audacious plan to move back to Fenland Park has been rejected by Fenland district council. Chairman Paul Brenchley had urged the local council to buy the Ridgeons Premier outfit’s former home from property developers who purchased Fenland Park for £1.4m before leasing the site back to the Fenmen.

Wisbech Town's audacious plan to move back to Fenland Park has been rejected by Fenland district council.

Chairman Paul Brenchley had urged the local council to buy the Ridgeons Premier outfit's former home from property developers who purchased Fenland Park for £1.4m before leasing the site back to the Fenmen.

Wisbech are currently ground sharing with Outwell but Brenchley had pushed for talks with council officials after confirming further delays on building a new stadium at a proposed site off Lynn Road.

The council's ruling Conservative group dismissed the proposal after Brenchley attracted tentative support from councillor Roger Green - a former Wisbech chairman and vice-president.

Council Leader Geoff Harper said: “The council has invested £400,000 to ensure Wisbech has a new public hall. The priority for any other investment must be other towns.”

Councillor Alan Melton, portfolio holder for business development, was even more hostile to the proposal. Asked if he thought it was a good idea, councillor Melton replied: “No, I do not.”

Brenchley had cited a similar arrangement with Wisbech's traditional rivals King's Lynn who lease their current Walks' ground as a possible way forward.

He said: “Wouldn't it be nice if Fenland district council were to buy back Fenland Park and rent it back to us, similar to King's Lynn and The Walks. If that was to happen, FDC could sell off the car park - for whatever - while we concentrate our efforts on revamping Fenland Park.”

Brenchley had hoped the club could use the new Lynn Road site for Wisbech's reserve and youth teams as well as a training base and community focal point. Councillor Green now plans further talks in an attempt to find a workable solution.

“From a personal point of view, I would like to think that something could be worked out,” he said. “Like many other supporters I was always extremely sorry to see the Fenmen leave Fenland Park. It would be wonderful to see them back playing on their 'home stadium' and added benefits could be that Fenland district council would then have their own sports stadium.”