A PROPOSED nature reserve has been put forward as a possible site to house the district's traveller community.

A PROPOSED nature reserve has been put forward as a possible site to house the district's traveller community.

The suggestion for the site, at gravel pits in Little Marlow, came from councillors at Wycombe District Council's planning environment and transport committee on Monday.

Cllr Tony Green (Con, Green Hill and Totteridge) said: 'Given the current problem with travellers in places such as Booker or Totteridge, it would be practical to have some of this area as a temporary site for travellers.'

The comments have caused concern among residents.

Cllr Green added after the meeting on Monday night: 'Marlow may be a possibility. One of the reasons I brought it up was to bring attention to the problem.

'Little Marlow must be a potential contender. It is fairly well screened and not too densely populated, although the fact that it is Green Belt may cause a problem.'

The land in question is bordered by the Marlow Road, the by-pass, the River Thames and Coldmoorholme Lane.

Cllr Sandra Cook (Con Hazlemere Central) supported her colleague at the meeting and said it would be proven in time that there will be a piece of land suitable for the travellers in Little Marlow.

However residents, who say they want to see the site turned into a nature reserve, reacted with concern at the suggestion.

The land to the east of the gravel pits, which are currently the subject of a study by Wycombe District Council to decide on their future, has already been turned into a nature reserve. Locals would like to see the rest of the Green Belt area, which adjoins a Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, added to the reserve.

William Northcroft, chairman of the Little Marlow Residents' Association, said: 'I think it is a totally unsuitable suggestion. I haven't spoken to residents about this but I can't imagine anyone in the village would support this proposal.

'I don't know if these councillors have walked round the area but I suggest they do. I hope they really know what they are talking about. It just doesn't make sense.'

Cllr Bob Woollard (Con, Great Marlow) spoke out against the suggestion at the meeting.

He said: 'I would be dead against what's been suggested and I would think the people of Little Marlow would be dead against it too.'

Barbara Wallace, a Little Marlow parish councillor, said: 'After a meeting of the residents a list of seven possible uses for the site were drawn up and a base for travellers did not come up in that list. The residents of Little Marlow want to be involved in this study.'