ANGRY residents have spoken out against a controversial plan to double the size of the University of York campus.

More than 100 residents and councillors grilled university representatives and City of York Council officers at a public meeting in St Paul's Church, Heslington, last night, many of them labelling the proposals as "unacceptable" use of the city's Green Belt.

Heslington parish councillor Susan Stern was applauded when she told university representatives and council officers at the meeting - part of a public consultation process over the expansion scheme - to stop treating residents like "stupid individuals".

She said they should put more thought into housing issues surrounding the proposed extension.

She said: "We have a lively community and a very balanced relationship with the university, which is going to be overturned by the proposals unless it's treated with sensitivity."

Badger Hill resident Jim Roberts and Fulford parish councillor Peter Barton raised concerns about the traffic problems that they feared could be generated by the proposed 65-hectare development, stretching from Heslington's eastern boundary to the Grimston Bar Park & Ride.

University bosses submitted an outline planning application to City of York Council at the beginning of May, detailing their vision for the future of what is currently the country's sixth smallest university.

The new campus, which will be built around a large lake, will include accommodation for 3,300 students, new academic departments, a performing arts centre and sports facilities, and 25 hectares devoted to Science City York. It could bring 4,500 new jobs to York.

Heslington Parish Council chairman Richard Frost urged residents to make their voices heard.

He said: "The development is partially educational, but one third is industrial, in a Green Belt site. Make no mistake about it, this is going to have a huge impact on every aspect of our lives.

"With a bit of luck there will be a public inquiry, and that's what we must strive to achieve."

Fulford Parish Council chairman Steve Kenwright, a part-time student at the university, asked people to make their feelings known individually.

He said: "I feel personally the wheels are moving and it will take an awful lot to stop it from happening. I feel it is unacceptable use of Green Belt and will devastate this village (Heslington)."

University spokeswoman Hilary Layton said traffic issues were being looked at.

She said: "We welcome the debate. It's really important that we have this debate and everybody has their say.

"We know that not everybody supports the extension but residents' views are very important and we think they will be very influential."

Residents are invited to a meeting of Heslington Parish Council at 7.30pm tonight, at St Paul's Church, Heslington, to discuss the proposals.

Updated: 10:48 Wednesday, June 09, 2004