A VILLAGE is divided over plans which would save a deaf school from closure.

The charity Sign is applying to build 40 homes for the elderly, 16 affordable dwellings, a doctor's surgery, post office, pharmacy, office accommodation, village green and a second playing field with changing facilities. It wants to buy the £2m site from current owners the London Borough of Camden.

Some residents have formed an action group, Penn Rage (Residents Against Green Erosion), to protest against the plan. Others are hailing it as a huge boost.

Peter Elliot, of Hammersley Lane, said: 'This is the creeping urbanisation of Tylers Green which would eventually end up joining Wycombe and many residents do not want that.

'We do want a doctor's surgery in the village, but I do not consider this and the building of new homes a good enough reason to destroy the environment.'

Dawn Page, of Curzon Avenue, Hazlemere, said: 'I think some people are being bloody-minded because houses are going to be built on the site anyway. At least this way we would be getting new facilities and the charity wouldn't have to move out of the area.'

Julie Lindskog, a fundraiser for Sign, said: 'I think it is a handful of people against the development, the main concerns seem to be about traffic and we have already discussed traffic-calming with the planning department.'

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