STUNNED Easingwold residents have been confronted with plans for more development in their town - this time, a central estate of 30 houses.

Developers Persimmon, which was behind the town's Claypenny estate, and which is currently working on a major development in Long Street, presented early concept sketches of the plans at a meeting of the town council.

The team told councillors, and members of the public, that they wanted to "engage the community at every stage" of the plan.

The plans focus on an area of green field land off Oxenby Place, near to the town's cricket pitch. The developers have provisionally tagged the site The Boundaries, to recognise the cricket connection. Jim Downes, of architects Downes Illingsworth Partnership, told the meeting: "We would like to introduce you to this scheme, which could be extremely beneficial to an important part of the town, improving security and enhancing the attractiveness of the area.

"We are looking to establish a dialogue with you, to find out what you would like to see there."

His comments that the scheme "was just the kind of thing that Easingwold needs" were greeted with derision from some members of the public.

One visitor heckled him: "The town is over-developed already."

There were further outbursts when Mr Downes claimed the Claypenny estate was "nationally acclaimed", and that the Long Street project would be similarly lauded in the future.

Another visitor said: "Yeah, right," although there were voices of approval.

The plans show custom-built luxury houses, arranged around a central, open green. The site would be entered through a grandiose arch, and each house would have a sloping green in front of it. The mayor, Coun Diane Gallon, thanked the team for introducing the plans, but said last night's meeting was not the best place to begin discussions about them.

"We need time to assimilate this, and would like to invite you back at a future date," she said.

Afterwards, Mr Downes told the Evening Press: "Our aim is to hold a free and open forum with the people of this town, to establish what they want.

"It's not necessarily about what we want, or the planners."

Asked if the plan could include so-called "affordable housing", Mr Downes said: "If that is a need which the people of Easingwold identify, then we will very happily consider it."

The Boundaries would be located on green field land, despite the fact that the local authorities have currently banned development on such land until all "brown field" sites have been used up.

Updated: 10:59 Wednesday, March 20, 2002