PLANS to replace pensioners' homes with a block of flats for single people have divided opinion in Chesham.

Chesham's John Kay House, in Alexander Street, once provided sheltered and wardened accommodation for elderly residents, but tenant numbers have been falling for years.

In May, owners Chiltern Hundreds Housing Association submitted plans for 40 new flats on the site.

Town cllr Mohammed Bhatti (Con, Newtown) told Chesham Town Council's planning and general purposes committee on Monday that the scheme could disrupt the existing community.

He said: "This is a very big new development in that area and it will be no good for the relationships in that community. There are going to be a lot of single people living there so I know they're going to destroy the harmony of people living in that area.

"I am totally against this development it is no good at all."

The new one-bedroom flats are being built to provide low cost accommodation in Chesham for young and single people facing spiralling house prices.

Cllr Bhatti said such a large number of single people in a family area could bring social problems such as increased noise pollution.

Other councillors feared it would have serious parking implications for surrounding roads.

But Cllr Nancy Downs (Lib Dem, Townsend) said: "There is a dearth of accommodation in this area for young people. For many years we've concentrated on accommodation for the elderly. Now we have to concentrate on the young people. Young people in this town need their own accommodation."

Chesham town councillors agreed John Kay House could be demolished and their comments on the proposed development were noted.

After the meeting David Smith, director of housing at Chiltern Hundreds, said the plans would go ahead as soon as possible if they got permission.

He added: "The development of the John Kay House site for general accommodation is an attempt to use one of the few plots of land available in the Chiltern district for a group of people who we have not been able to provide housing in the past."

The scheme will be decided by Chiltern District Council.