A VILLAGE meeting to protest against new housing plans had to be temporarily abandoned because of alleged "gatecrashers".

Two men were asked to leave last night's meeting at Church Fenton Methodist Church Hall when they confirmed they were in favour of the proposals.

Local farmer Peter Knaggs, one of the men who had to leave the meeting, said later that the plans had been approved by Selby District Council and objectors' protests were "undemocratic".

The objectors last night signed two petitions opposing the plans for 20 new houses at Ingledene, off Main Street, Church Fenton, and any other proposed housing outside the village development boundary.

Both petitions will be sent to the district council.

More than half the site for the Ingledene development is outside Church Fenton's development boundary, and objectors say it will ruin the character of their village, overburden local schools, increase traffic and create a "commuter corridor".

They have written to the local government ombudsman and the Department of Environment, Transport and The Regions asking for a decision to approve the plans to be overturned on the grounds of "maladministration" by the district council.

Nina Wrightson, who chaired last night's meeting, had to appeal for calm when passions began to run high.

She said: "We have all got to live in harmony no matter which way this decision goes.

"We are not here to discuss the rights and wrongs of the development but to look at ways in which objectors can go forward."

They also heard how a parish council meeting held earlier in the evening received nine letters of objection to the plans.

After the meeting, Mr Knaggs said the meeting was publicised on local radio as being open to the public.

He said: "I went to the meeting with a friend. We were asked if we had changed our minds on the plans and when we said no, we were asked to leave. The meeting was suspended and we walked out. I don't see any reason why the village shouldn't expand, provided it is at a sensible pace.

"I've lived in the village 56 years and the biggest majority of objectors are relative newcomers. They just won't accept a democratic decision reached by elected members of the district council.

"The site being outside the development boundary is not unique and doesn't set a precedent."

Objector Nikolai Bentley, of Church Fenton Hall, claimed the meeting was advertised for objectors only.

He said: "I hope everyone who attended the meeting will see that unless they act, things like this will just go through."

Updated: 14:56 Friday, March 08, 2002