A thriving cottage industry of bed and breakfasts in Marlow is at risk of dying out completely if a new Travelodge goes ahead, according an industry expert.

Former Marlow B&B owner John Gooding is now a consultant to those in the trade, and says the arrival of the budget chain could spell disaster for owners.

Travelodge revealed last month it wants to open a new hotel using "surplus council land" and hopes Wycombe District Council will agree to a funding partnership to make it a reality.

But Mr Gooding, who works with several Marlow B&B and guesthouses, said owners could find it difficult to make ends meet.

He said: "I suspect if you have a hotel of around 50 rooms, then I suspect it will put the remaining B&Bs out of business. That’s my view.

"You can see what’s going to happen if a cheap place opens up say on the industrial estate anybody coming here on business on a budget will automatically stay there, "Basically, the whole character of Marlow in terms of its old cottage industry is actually going die."

Mr Gooding said when he and his wife closed their business in 2006, there were 30 B&Bs in Marlow.

More than half have now closed, with the businessman saying it is becoming harder to make ends meet in the industry.

Mr Gooding said through his job he hears similar tales from owners throughout the country, and that a new Travelodge would make it impossible for new businesses to spring up in future.

He said: "You’d be out of your mind to pay three quarters of a million for a house with a few rooms and to try and justify to your bank manager that you want to try and charge the sort of prices the Travelodge are charging.

"Once the Travelodge opens that’ll be set in tablets of stone. We’re talking about the lives of the people.

"People are costing up the actual money they earned per hour and it’s around £2 per hour, because you’re living it every day.

"It’s certainly not a job that’s paved with gold."

Lily Grant, who runs Glade End Guest House on Glade Road, said she is concerned a Travelodge would damage Marlow’s character.

She said: "Marlow is a unique place, and that’s enhanced by the number of small owner-run businesses that flourish in serving the towns visitors.

So the arrival of a Travelodge will definitely have an impact on Marlow. Some of the smaller businesses might lose a lot of custom and that’s a real shame for visitors and the character of the town as a whole.

"For us, we compete on quality and personal service so I don’t think it will impact us too much, but no one wants Marlow to start looking the same as every other town in England."

Travelodge say a new hotel would generating revenue for taxpayers, create Marlow jobs and could act as a catalyst for new developments nearby as part of a council partnership.

WDC says it is "in discussions" with the chain.