HUNDREDS of residents have rallied together to support a village butcher who could be forced out of his shop and home to make way for a three bedroom house.

Joe Gleeson has run his shop in Hazlemere Road, Penn for the last 29 years and also lives at the address with his wife, two of his three children, and his grandchild.

So he was shocked to discover from one of his customers that the property's freeholders had applied for prior notification to turn it into solely a home.

Customers and residents have now come together to try and save the butchers, with one saying it would be a "tragedy" if it closed.

More than 100 objection letters have been sent to Chiltern District Council and there is an active campaign on Facebook and Twitter with the #Save Our Bacon slogan.

Mr Gleeson, 54, said: "The momentum of customer allegiance and objections is growing.

"We offer an amazing delivery service to the house bound and elderly.

"If someone rang up and said to me drop down half a dozen eggs, we would do that.

"We rate everyone who shops here, whether it is someone who is coming along to buy 100 fillet steaks or someone who just wants a box of eggs. Everyone gets served the same."

When it snowed they made all their deliveries in their 4X4 and they also sell fruit, vegetables, bread, dairy and deli items.

Freeholders A & N Juneja have submitted a notification to convert the mixed use premises to a dwelling house.

There was a change in planning legislation in April under the general permitted development order, which means developers do not have to apply for planing permission but for prior notification.

The planning agent's letter said the change adheres to the legislation as it is not in a key shopping area, which they say means the retail element of the premises would not be used by other services.

The letter said the area is well supplied with butchers' shops and there are several other places where fresh meat can be purchased.

Mr Gleeson said: "We may not be in a key shopping area but we are a key shop in the community".

He added: "It is actually a house with a small shop attached to it. To turn it back into residential is actually realising no gain for the concept of the legislation which was to create more residential."

Pat and Dave Clark from Finch End, Tylers Green put in an objection letter and said: "The closure of this family business would be a tragedy for the local community who have come to rely on it for supplying us with top quality meat and local produce."

Roger Brodie from Kiln Road, Tylers Green added: "I am amazed by the gross stupidity of the powers that govern our lives propose. Why on earth propose to close a shop that serves the local community well and has done for over 30 years? There has been a butchers shop there since 1932.

"If it is not broken, don't fix it."

A & N Juneja have not responded to the Bucks Free Press for a comment.

The planning reference CH/2014/1531/PNR and can be viewed on the Chiltern District Council planning portal. The closing date for submissions is September 23.