Plans to build a relief road through a quiet country lane in Princes Risborough dubbed the “gateway to the Chilterns” has been slammed by campaigners who say it will “destroy” the land.

Wycombe District Council has been criticised for its “lack of awareness” of the recreational activities which will have to cease if the plans for the relief road in Picts Lane get the go-ahead.

Colin Courtney, spokesman for the Wake Up Risborough group, said: “This road would take heavy goods vehicle traffic on to or across Picts Lane with little regard for safety, pollution and all the recreational activity that takes place in this area of the town.

“It is a quiet but important route and links into the Chilterns.

“The relief road will destroy the lane and turn it into a main road for heavy good vehicles through the part of the lane that we cherish.”

Picts Lane, which is part of the National Cycle Route 57, is regularly used by walkers, joggers, dog walkers, horse riders and cyclists, and the group set up a stall in the road to speak to some of the users to find out what they thought of the plans.

Mr Courtney said: “Some people were not aware of the proposals and we wanted to raise awareness.

“They couldn’t believe that Wycombe District Council could be so insensitive to others’ going on.”

Speaking about the proposed 2,600 new homes in the draft Princes Risborough Town Plan, Mr Courtney said: “People in Princes Risborough recognise the need for expansion but not to the scale that is proposed.

“We want a more sustainable development.”

Almost 300 people who use the lane have signed a petition to oppose the relief road, which has been submitted as part of the draft Local Plan feedback.

Mr Courtney added: “We trust this level of interest will encourage WDC to think again with regards to the proposed relief road, recognising the importance of our lanes to the local community and in attracting visitors.

“We believe our lanes need to be cherished and enjoyed – not destroyed.”

Cllr David Johncock, WDC's cabinet member for planning and sustainability, said: "Following the responses that we had to the consultation on the Draft Local Plan, we have commissioned more work to examine whether there is an alternative to using Picts Lane for the alternative route.

“We shared the brief with the BANG campaign group and residents prior to commissioning this extra work and we have delayed the plan timetable to accommodate this.

“We will share the outcome of the work in the autumn, once it is complete.

“But there are no easy answers and there is no silver bullet to the challenges we face.

“We have a serious shortfall of 15,000 homes which the government has said we must meet by 2033.

“There are limited options open to us. More than 70 per cent of the district is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and almost half of the district is designated as green belt.

“We need a robust Local Plan to protect ourselves from inappropriate development and we need roads, schools and jobs to supplement the new houses – the Local Plan can help us get them and will help protect the vast majority of our beautiful countryside.”