A PARISH council was split over a possible compromise for the use of a former school site and there are fears that delays could mean the loss of a GP's surgery.

Buckinghamshire County Council would like to use the former Cedars School in Hazlemere to house the increasing number of elderly people in the Wycombe District who need care but local residents say the site is invaluable for community needs such as a doctor's surgery and youth facility.

Cllr David Cox (Con, Hazlemere East), who met Mark Taylor, cabinet member for resources at the county council, said at a meeting of Hazlemere Parish Council last Tuesday, that a compromise could be reached and the site could be used for some community facilities and for an elderly person's home.

But Cllr Les Taylor (Con, Hazlemere West) said there could be no compromise.

Cllr Cox said: "It was a very helpful discussion and the prospect of making a decision that is mutually acceptable to local residents and the council seems rather more likely than before.

"They were saying we had a strong case to make for community use but they had a strong case for it being an elderly person's home.

"It is inevitable that there is going to be a lot of delay before they make up their minds. I get the impression we will get some of what we want and that is a victory."

Cllr Taylor said that in a phone call to Mark Taylor he was told: "You must not regard the community of Hazlemere as final. It is the community of the county we must look after."

Mark Taylor said the county council was trying to "keep everyone happy".

He added: "We are in discussions with both the district council and parish council and are looking at using the site for both elderly residential care and incoporating local wishes."