A WOMAN whose family have long-running connections with a church is determined to stop developers from uprooting a tree which was planted in her father's memory.

Lorna Cassidy, 66, from Hampden Road, High Wycombe, says the First Church of Christ Scientist, Corporation Street, High Wycombe, is the place where her parents Richard and Mimie Snow first met.

Her grandparents were also founder members of the High Wycombe branch of the church and the family planted a cedar tree in the grounds in 1954 in memory of her father.

But now London Orbital Developments has submitted a planning application to put 17,500 sq ft of offices on raised floors and basement parking for 28 cars on the site.

Mrs Cassidy said: "My parents were both Christian Scientists and I used to go to the Sunday School.

"I decided to plant the tree there because it was a place which was close to my father's heart. That is where my parents met."

Mrs Cassidy, who is an artist, said: "I think as those buildings were originally designed around trees, whatever this development company puts there it would be an extremely good idea if they accommodated trees, particularly this cedar tree."

A spokesman for London Orbital Developments said that the tree would be felled as part of the development and they had discussed plans for the site with the church committee over the past two years.

He said: "The church themselves have had meetings with the whole congregation to go through the scheme."

Bryan Hall, spokesman for the church, said: "As a church we are sympathetic because her mother, Mimie Snow, we knew very well and we loved her dearly.

"It is not possible to retain the tree. We would wish to possibly consider re-dedication of a tree."