ANGRY residents in Wooburn Green are fighting plans for a “colossal” care home next to the River Wye, saying it could put homes in danger from flooding.

A local developer wants to demolish a bungalow and build a 116-bed residential care home on land off Clapton Approach, next to the Homebase car park.

Keith Hunt, 66, who lives on Millstream Way, objects to the plan and said: “Once that land is covered in a huge block of concrete the water isn't going to have anywhere to go but into the river and that will mean a high chance of flooding.

“From the plans it looks like a shopping centre and it's staggering that something like that could be put forward. Our homes are in danger.”

The Environment Agency is also concerned about the flood risk and has written to Wycombe District Council to object to the application.

But developer Richard Potyka said “the land hasn't flooded in 60 years” and that his consultants were satisfied with the results of a flood risk assessment.

Residents have other concerns about access to the care home and say emergency and delivery vehicles will have problems getting to the site.

Entrepreneur Emmelina Hoyles, 42, lives on Clapton Approach.

She said: “It just seems totally inappropriate. The access road is only 13ft wide at one point and that's going to create a major problem for vehicles.

“It's going to be chaos with all the staff and visitors using that one tiny road.”

Mr Potyka, who owns R A P Building and Developments, said the care home will create around 60 new jobs and the road has been designed to accommodate it.

He said: “We are local builders and this has been sympathetically designed. The council are crying out for developments like this.

“It's a fantastic location with the River Wye next to it and it's not going to be a concrete monstrosity. It will be absolutely fantastic and something good for the community.”

Though the site includes land on both sides of the river Mr Potyka said the care home would only be on the south side which is designated as a residential area. He said the north side of the river is a conservation area.

Wooburn and Bourne End Parish Council and The Chiltern Society have also objected to the application.

WDC is aiming to make its decision by February 19.

See the full plans by clicking the link below.