THE owners of the world's oldest model village fear plans for a new block of flats could cast a shadow over the historic site.

Beaconsfield Town Council received 15 letters of objection to the application for outline planning permission for the nine two bedroom flats, which would be situated in Warwick Road, Beaconsfield.

Bekonscot Model Village is situated on the same road and the owners of the village fear the new flats would detract from the appeal of the village.

Barry Newman, PR manager, said: "Our main problem is that Bekonscot will never be quite the same again if this gets the go-ahead.

"Instead of overlooking trees we shall see the back of some flats - it has shaken us rigid."

The application has also caused a stir with residents in Warwick Road and resident John Lacey said he was saddened by the plans.

He added: "It's so unnecessary. There are flats in the road but they are all at one end.

"Sometimes at the moment we can't get our car out of our own driveway - you can't find a space to park on Warwick Road from 10am to 4pm - so these flats would make the problem worse.

"It is so sad - the whole road is against the plans."

Peter Neeves, who lives next door to the proposed new development said the flats would block the light from his property and cause unacceptable congestion around his driveway.

He added: "I don't want all those cars next to me going in and out of the flats."

Town councillor Malcolm Dunlop (Con, North Ward) said that in six years on the council he had never known a planning application to generate 15 letters of objection.

He added: "Warwick Road was set out as a particular street scene with trees on both sides and the church in the background.

"These flats would be right in the middle of the houses on the road and would cause a complete break of the street scene.

"It will almost completely impinge on Bekonscot which is a heritage site and this must be very carefully looked at.

"This is of national, not just local, importance."