CAMPAIGNERS who are opposed to the University of York's plans to build on green belt land have called a public meeting to gather more support for their cause.

Members of PROTECT, which stands for People and Residents Objecting to The Erection of Campus Three, are hoping that residents in York will back them as they try to protect around 100 acres of farmland, off Field Lane, in Heslington.

The university is hoping to build a science park and associated buildings on the site to form a third campus.

But the plans cannot go ahead until an inquiry into the city's green belt boundaries has been completed.

PROTECT, which has already made presentations to the inquiry working committee, is concerned about the loss of agricultural land which has been designated as green belt, and the subsequent effect on the environment.

David Pearcy, chairman of PROTECT, said the university also wants to increase its student numbers to 15,000 over the next ten years - a population which, he says, cannot be sustained by York's infrastructure.

Mr Pearcy said: "The University of York does not have to increase its numbers and expand into another campus.

"That is going to have a huge effect on the residents in the area - and the whole of the city.

"The green belt inquiry is considering whether to move the green belt back, partly so that the university can go ahead with this plan.

"But once they have decided to move the green belt our cause is lost and it will be too late to do anything about it. We want to bring everyone up to date with what's happening and decide what our next presentation to the inquiry committee is going to be."

But a spokeswoman for the university said that although she was not ruling out student numbers reaching 15,000 in the future, it was not a definite figure.

She said that any expansion plans had to be backed by the council and local residents and be included in the local plan.

She said: "Student numbers at the University of York are still gradually increasing year-on-year.

"It's never had a massive increase in student numbers, we have always had a gradual approach to our growth.

"But the university is running out of space on its present campus.

"It has been highly successful throughout its history, but particularly in the past ten years.

"The City of York Council wants to continue to support our expansion because we are a good jobs provider, but we have to fit in with the local plan."

The public meeting will take place in the main hall at Archbishop Holgate School, Hull Road, York, at 8pm on Monday.