ANGRY York residents are protesting against plans to build on a former bowling green behind their homes.

People living near the green, situated behind the Ainsty Hotel in Boroughbridge Road, Acomb, say Cedar Properties Developments' scheme for 15 homes will be out-of-character for the area, and overshadow and overlook their houses.

A petition signed by more than 30 people has been gathered by one resident, John Cluff, of Boroughbridge Road.

He said the development would deprive his back garden of light and quietness, and be an invasion of his privacy.

"The type of properties... are totally out of character with the area," he said. "They would look a real eyesore."

He also complained about the felling of two "perfectly healthy" trees.

Steve and Jane Nye, of Malvern Avenue, raised concerns about access to the site, which they said would be created by the removal of some parking spaces alongside the Ainsty.

"We're concerned that full thought may not have been given to the impact of fewer car parking spaces for the pub," they said in a letter to City of York Council.

"This may result in their customers parking on the side of Boroughbridge Road or Carr Lane, which are busy and often congested."

Jeanette Brown said people had pulled out of buying her home because of concerns about the new buildings.

Andrew Campey, of Carr Lane, raised concerns over safety, security, traffic congestion, refuse collection, noise and pollution.

He said the proposed development would take away one of the main reasons he and his wife bought their home, the privacy offered by the back garden.

"Mine and other gardens in the immediate area will be turned into goldfish bowls, with these three-storey intrusive buildings looking down at us."

Stephen Sadler, of Walker Morris, which acts as agent for Cedar Property Developments, said the buildings would be a considerable distance away from local homes, and would therefore not affect their light or amenity.

He said the development would be attractive, and a couple of residents had even contacted him to say they had no problem with the design.

The scheme had also been developed in accordance with the planning authority's development control statement.

He said new pub parking spaces would be created to replace those lost.

A council spokesman said the application would be considered at a west area planning committee meeting, possibly on June 23.

Updated: 10:58 Monday, April 25, 2005