A popular Marlow Bottom restaurant has been forced to defend itself against "fake news" after claims it would bring in noisy scooters and convert the eatery into a pizza delivery shop.

Plans for a change of use were submitted to Wycombe District Council (WDC) last month by Italian restaurant Da Luca, in Kingswood Parade, Marlow Bottom Road, to include takeaways and deliveries.

After the plans were submitted dozens of complaints were launched.

One of the residents who commented, Neil Hillier, said a consultation was held with the village when plans were initially proposed for there to be a restaurant in Kingswood Parade, and residents “en masse” objected to the restaurant being used for deliveries.

He wrote: “We now have a planning application for conversion from restaurant to include takeaway use.

“This is clearly trying to bypass the consultation held with the village in the first place.”

And posters, put together by an anonymous person, have been making the rounds on social media and in the village saying owner Gianluca Paletta is trying to get a delivery licence “without any regard or respect for [villagers’] well-documented opinions.”

The posters claim once planning permission is granted, Mr Paletta is planning to sell the business to a pizza delivery chain, saying: “Even if he does not, once he moves, they will move in, as planning would already be granted.

“This is converting the restaurant to a pizza delivery shop – the one type we all objected to – without our consent.”

But the restaurant hit back at the claims, sharing the poster on its social media page and saying it had been targeted by “fake news”.

It wrote: “De Luca has no intention of selling or going anywhere else, you welcomed us to your community and we feel part of the family.

“De Luca has no intention to get scooter deliveries, it is not our business model, fully respecting the will of our community.

“There is an application, but only to regularise the takeaway side of things, something that has been missed during the initial planning permission – we invite you all to check the council website for further details.”

Speaking anonymously to the Marlow Free Press, a member of staff at the restaurant confirmed if planning permission was given, there are no plans for it to start using noisy scooters and deliveries would be made by car.

But many villagers are worried a delivery service will increase “noise nuisance” in the village and others fearing if Mr Paletta does decide to move out of the town, a pizza chain would take over with noisy two-wheelers making deliveries.

Wayne Howell wrote: “This increased disturbance from the additional traffic will diminish the quality of life for all residents within Marlow Bottom, particularly those living along the main Marlow Bottom Road and Ragman’s Lane.”

However, are also plenty of supportive messages for the plans, with Caroline Pack writing: “I support the application. Excellent local restaurant and may actually reduce carbon footprint of delivery from further away,” and Richard Watts commenting: “Da Luca IS a part of the local community.

“The owner and staff are responsible, respectable and thoroughly considerate, the restaurant is the only such business to thrive in the village, where all others have failed over the years.

“It is a massive asset to a village which doesn't even have a public house, at its heart. A delivery service, as an expansion of the current service, would be invaluable.”

The planning application can be viewed here.