NEW government proposals for house building have been attacked as a threat to Cheshams survival as a countryside town.

Chesham town councillors strongly criticised the revised figure that an average of 39,000 homes be built per year outside London in the South East.

This would mean an annual average figure of more than 3,200 new homes in Bucks.

At a meeting of the town councils planning and general purposes committee on Monday, Cllr Alan Bacon (Lib Dem) said the council had to keep pressure on the Government to think again.

He explained: "I really think we have got to reiterate that which we have said before we have to make them realise just how fragile this area of countryside is being so close to London."

Cllr Alan Walters (Lib Dem) said the plans could be disastrous for Chesham.

Chesham is a very unusual town in as much as we've got areas of green belt and we are so close to the city it makes us a special place."

He added: "We are not a Milton Keynes."

The Government has asked all councils to comment on housing plans. Comments must be submitted by February 12.