CAMPAIGNERS fear a village's identity and protected wildlife species will be lost if a farm is developed to meet future housing or leisure needs, a public inquiry heard.

Grange Action Group (GAG) say Grange Farm, in Hazlemere, High Wycombe, should be preserved because it is in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the High Wycombe public inquiry heard earlier this month.

GAG, which represents 16,000 people in Hughenden and Hazlemere, says the site provides a strategic gap between Hazlemere and Terriers, is of historical significance and harbours two badger setts, ancient woodland and important hedgerows which will all be affected if the site is developed.

Wycombe District Council has designated the 269-acre site for long-term development until 2011 in the Deposit Local Plan, but says the site has not been allocated for housing at this stage.

Dr Michael Morecroft, GAG ecology expert, told the inquiry: "Gaps in the area are crucial ecologically. If you diminish any part of the Grange Farm site then what is left is poorer and it will affect the rest of the AONB."

Chartered town planner, Richard Wilson, representing The National Trust, added that AONBs should be considered on a par with national parks.

He said: "I would suggest that any future development of the objection site is most likely to be either housing or mixed-use built development. I fail to see how either form of development could respect the natural beauty of the landscape."

Barbara Wallis, representing the Chiltern Society, called for the site to be put in the Green Belt.

Morag Ellis, Wycombe District Council barrister, said Wycombe had to meet development requirements like the rest of the south east and it would be irresponsible planning for the town to assume it could dodge the allocation.

She added: "Any future release of land will only take place after a thorough review."

The public inquiry will continue on February 8, at 10am.