OPPONENTS of plans for major development of a York village are mobilising a campaign against it.

Huntington Parish Council today announced plans for public meetings to ensure a strong reaction to public consultation on City of York Council's local plan, which lays out how the city is expected to develop in the next ten years.

The plan has now been approved by York councillors and goes out to public discussion.

It includes proposals for a huge building campaign at Huntington.

Parish council clerk Peter Richardson said: "Any further development of housing and Monks Cross would be over- development for Huntington, we feel.

"About 71 per cent of new commercial development and about 31 per cent of new housing in the city will be in Huntington, according to the local plan. We think that is very unfair to Huntington and to its residents."

Huntington residents have already voiced opposition to the plan. A public meeting earlier this year attracted hundreds , and 1,200 people signed a letter asking the council to reconsider.

Village resident Mark Clinton, who attended the meeting, said: "I want to ascertain the full impact of these plans and am particularly concerned about increased traffic, whether the infrastructure in Monks Cross is capable of taking this expansion and what the environmental impact will be.

"If many people are coming into the village, what will be done about things like education? Is there a planned expansion of existing schools in Huntington?"

Mr Richardson said the meetings would be organised for the near future.

"We want to explain the parish council's stance and make sure people are aware what this plan means for Huntington," he said.

Updated: 11:58 Thursday, November 14, 2002