THE trucks are set to roll in next week to start work on Marlow's controversial new Holiday Inn hotel.

The 168-room complex is running a month-and-a-half behind schedule after sodden weather conditions prevented workers digging trenches on the site to the east of the A404 in Fieldhouse Lane.

Landowner John Dixey, of Pelhamcrest, said he was pleased to see the work finally begin.

The hotel, costing in the region of £15million, is expected to be up and running by around July 2002.

Mr Dixey said: "When you start building you have to dig trenches and they fill up with water. It has been absolutely horrific.

"Also if you put heavy goods vehicles on the ground when it is so wet, they churn up it up something nasty."

The hotel, a modern structure, attracted fierce criticism from councillors and conservation groups when the plans were initially submitted.

They were rejected by Wycombe District Council in April 1999, before being approved at the beginning of 2000.

The 3.7 hectare site, which is designated Green Belt, used to be a sewage farm.

There were initial concerns over the look of the building which was described as a monolith by protesters.

However most dropped their objections after a revised plan was produced.

Colin Berks, president of the Marlow Chamber of Trade, said: "The town badly needs a mid-priced hotel suitable for business and tourists."