A rock star from Princes Risborough has blasted plans to route a new bypass through a quiet residential part of the town.

Jay Kay, lead singer of Jamiroquai, issued a strongly worded statement this week after a group of around 80 residents from Shootacre Lane, Picts Lane and Horsenden came out to protest the move on Saturday morning.

The plan for the relief road, which would divert traffic off the A4010 onto Shootacre Lane, is part of Wycombe District Council’s proposals to build up to 2,500 homes as well as two new primary schools – a move that would almost double the size of the town.

The ‘Deeper Underground’ singer, known for his love of cars, said: “I completely oppose the bypass proposed for Princes Risborough - In no way would this help the community.

“Not only would it ruin so much of the beautiful countryside, but it would harm local businesses and eliminate another area of quiet countryside.

“Whilst it may suit commuters into London, it will also provide more expensive houses so young people, who have grown up here, won’t be able to afford them.

“The plans, if fully implemented, will completely alter the character of this beautiful Chilterns market town forever.”

The council has shortlisted two options for the western relief route, one of which continues along Picts Lane and the other heads to the east of Horsenden.

WDC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Sustainability, Cllr David Johncock, said: “We have looked really seriously at putting in a wider by-pass around the town but it wasn’t as effective as the other options.

“While a wider by-pass could take through traffic away from the centre, it wouldn’t solve local congestion which could then clog up the town centre roads.

“On a practical level, we simply couldn’t get enough money from developers to pay for a wider bypass and alleviate town centre traffic.”

Philip Hayes, 40, who grew up in Shootacre Lane and coordinates the Princes Risborough Bypass ActioN Group (BANG) alongside Monica Nelson, said: “The whole notion of relieving perceived traffic by transferring it to residential parts of the town is at best unsympathetic, at worst outright dangerous.

“If the housing development does go ahead and the town does require a relief route, this is clearly not the right place to put it.”

Mrs Nelson, 38, added: “Both of the proposed routes would tear right through quiet residential lanes, changing the character of the whole area.

“Anyone who knows and loves Princes Risborough needs to object to this plan and fast.”

Residents can have their say online at www.wycombe.gov.uk/haveyoursay or by emailing a form to newlocalplan@wycombe.gov.uk.

The deadline for responding to the consultation is midnight on Monday, March 28.