A PARISH council fears the voices of its residents are not being heard over discussions for a potentially major new development in Wycombe.

RAF Daws Hill is being marketed for development, while Abbey Barn South and Abbey Barn North are both reserve sites for long-term development.

A public meeting was held by Wycombe District Council to discuss the area in October, and a formal consultation will be held next summer. No specific proposals have been put forward yet.

But Chepping Wycombe Parish Council is already worried the potential impact on residents in Flackwell Heath and Loudwater is not being considered.

Cllr Maurice Smith, chairman of the council, said: “People are asking 'what's all this about?' Particularly people who live on the road - you can imagine the extra traffic any development's going to cause.

“Residents are extremely concerned and feel the situation on the roads and relief roads should be considered before any consultation.”

Cllr Smith is concerned any development along Daws Hill would have a massive impact on the traffic flowing through Flackwell Heath and Loudwater, to join the M40 or A40.

Last week the parish council wrote to the district council to request it be made a more active participant in future discussions about the area.

Cllr Smith said: “We are not trying to cause a problem. What we are asking is: before they start talking about development, what are they going to do about roads?”

“We, as a Parish Council are alarmed at the prospect of of the extra traffic.

“We're being told to wait until we get the consultation. We don't want to wait until then.”

Wycombe District Council said it is still in the early stages of considering any development of the Daws Hill/ Abbey Barn area.

Catherine Spalton, spokesman for the council said: “One of the issues that was raised at the workshops and public meeting was the traffic implications of the potential development; the impact on the Flackwell Heath area was specifically highlighted. This is an issue that we are already looking at closely as part of our technical work, through detailed traffic modelling, alongside looking at possible impacts on other services and facilities.”

She said the council would be responding directly to Chepping Wycombe Parish Council about its concerns.