HUNDREDS of people are expected to turn out for a mass protest against the "overdevelopment" of the south of York.

They will be led by members of Fulford Parish Council, who are holding two legal public demonstrations to show what they say is the huge strength of feeling against proposals to build 700 homes at Germany Beck in Fulford.

The banner-carrying protesters will be calling for a public inquiry into what they see is the overdevelopment of the green space to the south of the city centre.

The protests are planned for the A19 Main Street, Fulford, during the morning rush hour on Friday, May 20, and about 10am on Saturday, May 21.

They will be leafleting cars which are waiting in traffic during these busy periods, and collecting signatures for a petition calling for a public inquiry.

Opponents of planned developments for Connaught Court in Fulford, the expansion of York University in Heslington, and Derwenthorpe new village scheme for land near Osbaldwick, have also been invited to join the demonstrations.

The organiser, Fulford Parish Council chairman, Steve Kenwright, said the Germany Beck development would mean Fulford doubling in size and more traffic chaos in Fulford Main Road.

Coun Kenwright said: "This is to show the planning committee the huge swell of public feeling against the Germany Beck development and the other raft of developments on greenfield sites in the south of the city.

"What we want is a public inquiry to get an independent view on this. "We're also looking to warn people stuck in the rush hour traffic that their journey is only going to get worse if these plans go ahead."

The demonstration was supported by a packed meeting of parishioners.

The Evening Press recently reported how Fulford Battlefield Society, which believes a major conflict between Vikings and Saxons took place on the Germany Beck site on September 20, 1066, was opposing the planned development.

Campaigners voiced fears that evidence of the battle would be lost forever if Persimmon Homes was granted permission to build 750 houses and a road there.

In October last year, local people were dismayed when they learned a city council study into the potential traffic impact of major developments in the south-east area of York would exclude the proposed 540-home Derwenthorpe scheme.

Fulford, Heslington and Osbaldwick Parish Councils said that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's plans for a model village there must be included if the survey was to present a true picture.

York police events officer, Paul Maloney, said: "We would encourage the event organisers to get in touch with the police to discuss any health and safety implications there might be.

"The police also discourage any events that take place on the highway, and hope that this would be taken in to consideration."

Updated: 10:22 Thursday, April 21, 2005