CAMPAIGNERS opposing the massive Germany Beck development in south York today declared: "The fight goes on".

The hundreds of protesters were dealt a huge blow by City of York Council officers' decision to recommend approval for the 700-home Persimmon Homes scheme in Fulford, with a new access road.

Residents say the project is "overdevelopment", which would double the size of Fulford and create traffic chaos.

Planners received hundreds of objections to the scheme, including a petition signed by 719 residents, a petition on behalf of residents in Fulfordgate and another from householders in Fordlands Road.

Green Party councillor Andy D'Agorne said they would keep fighting until a final decision was made. "There are a whole range of issues that are of concern," he said.

"The development is too big and there would be a significant increase in the amount of traffic going out into Fulford Road."

Fulford Battlefield Society, which believes a major conflict between Vikings and Saxons took place on the Germany Beck site on September 20, 1066, has also opposed the development.

They claim that evidence of the battle would be lost forever if the scheme went ahead.

But the officers' report says that archaeological field evaluations "failed to produce any archaeological evidence for the Battle of Fulford".

If approval is granted, Persimmon Homes would be required make at least 130 of the houses affordable and look to construct a new nature reserve along the southern boundary of the site.

A contribution of more than £2.5 million would also go towards primary, secondary and foundation stage education facilities in the area.

A further sum of more than £1.5 million would be ploughed into the provision of community sports facilities, including a new sports hall and an all-weather pitch.

In a report to the planning committee, officers said the site represented the only emerging large-scale housing development in south York and met the requirements of local and national policy.

Coun D'Agorne said campaigners fighting the Germany Beck and Connaught Court plans would be meeting at Fordlands Road at 10am on Saturday.

The scheme will go before councillors on Thursday, May 26.

If they accept the recommendation, it would then be referred to the Government for a final decision.

Updated: 08:42 Tuesday, May 17, 2005