CONCERNED residents have expressed their fears that plans to build a new business park could reduce their village to chaos.

About 70 Strensall residents attended a public meeting last night to object to proposals to build a large office development on the site of the Tannery in Sheriff Hutton Road.

The vice-chairman of Strensall Parish Council, Ralph Plant, who chaired the meeting at Robert Wilkinson Primary School, said: "We already know this village can't take any more development. The school is bursting at the seams, you can't get an appointment at the medical centre unless you are actually dying and the traffic is horrendous."

The scheme, which was submitted by developers Charles F Stead and Co last year, has been deferred twice and is due for discussion by the City of York Council planning committee on April 24. Planning officers have recommended the application, which claims the business park will create up to 400 jobs, is given outline planning permission.

Development Control Officer Mick Britton said the business park would have a floor space of 13,500 square metres and 250 car parking spaces.

But the residents who attended the meeting were strongly opposed to the scheme and felt that the business park would bring more problems than benefits. Several residents said that they did not believe Strensall could cope with the extra traffic the scheme would create.

Resident Janet Bishop said: "The junction on Sheriff Hutton Road is used by a lot of children, who cross the road at the busiest time. I can foresee a terrible accident happening there if there is any more traffic."

Gordon Priestley said: "The infrastructure isn't there to get the workers to the office block. There's traffic problems in Strensall as it is."

Barry Sullivan said he felt Strensall would benefit more if the site was used for recreational purposes such as a football pitch or skatepark.

Strensall councillor Madeleine Kirk said she felt the development was unsuitable for the village.

She said: "There is very low unemployment in Strensall, Haxby and Wigginton.

"I don't know where the evidence is that the jobs that are created by the development will be filled by the village or its neighbours. The majority of people will probably come from quite a distance, using their cars."

Updated: 11:25 Friday, April 11, 2003