Princes Risborough could face “Armageddon” if development plans go ahead, warns a district councillor.

Gary Hall’s comments come after Network Rail and Wycombe District Council revealed proposals for the local plan and railway crossings in the town.

More than 100 residents crammed into Risborough Community Centre last night to hear about the proposed schemes.

The panel was headed up by planning officers from Wycombe District Council, as well as Risborough town councillors.

Residents’ fears centred around congestion, preserving nature and wildlife, employment and business opportunities and retaining boundaries between the different settlements.

Councillor Hall, who represents The Risboroughs on Wycombe District Council, said he was worried the decision to approve any housing development for the town had already been made “behind closed doors”.

He said: “I’m Risborough born and bred, and I don’t want to see my town destroyed. We’re looking at Armageddon. There will be double the requirement for GPs and hospitals, traffic, crime and anti-social behaviour.

“It’s good to see so many people turned up for the meeting, I think it’s actually starting to dawn on people the seriousness and gravity of this situation. I don’t want to see this community dismantled and ruined forever, because if this is wrong, there is no going back.”

He was joined on the panel leading the discussion by Penelope Tollitt, head of planning and sustainability at WDC, Ian Mankletow and Rosie Brake, planning policy officers and town mayor Alan Turner.

Tackling the problem of traffic, planning officers suggested that an outer relief road could be built to ease the congestion that potentially 2,500 new homes could bring. 

However, the officers were keen to show the benefits that a new development could bring, including better bus services, improved cycling routes and footpaths between the town and the station and even the introduction of high speed broadband to make working from home easier.

Ms Brake made it clear that any new shops or services would primarily be introduced into the town centre, leaving only local shops within the development.

Preserving the countryside is a key issue and planners outlined a plan for possibly creating a country park between Princes Risborough and Longwick.

The issue of flooding, particularly around Mill Lane, was also discussed.

Residents also raised concerns about how Stoke Mandeville Hospital would cope with the increased population, something which planning officers said would need to be “considered before any decision is made”.

Consultation for the framework is due to take place between July and September, and residents can expect the release of a draft plan sometime between December and January.