10:00am Saturday 13th March 2010
By Lawrence Dunhill
PLANS for a new care home should be blocked because its entrance would pass underneath a 'dangerous' horse chestnut tree - said a woman whose husband was 'concussed' by a large conker.
A local developer wants to demolish a bungalow and build a 116-bed residential care home on land off Clapton Approach in Wooburn Green.
Entrepreneur Emmelina Hoyles, lives on Clapton Approach, and warned against having a staff car park near the tree.
She told Wycombe District Council the tree “deposits very large prickly cases and large conkers right through September and October”.
The 42-year-old added: “My husband was hit by one and was concussed. We no longer go anywhere near it during these two months, it is too dangerous.”
Developer Richard Potyka dismissed the concerns and said: “Next they'll have bricks falling out the tree”.
He said staff will have to pass under the tree but said parking spaces are not underneath it.
He added: “I can't believe people are moaning about the plans – the site's going to be absolutely blinding.
“This is something for the community and surely they would rather this than have social housing down here.”
Mrs Hoyles has a number of other objections and last month a group of residents said the care home could pose a serious flood risk, which Mr Potyka contested (see link below).
Mr Potyka, who owns R A P Building and Developments, said the care home would create around 60 new jobs.
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