YORK residents will get an opportunity to put forward their objections about a controversial housing development which is planned for their community.

Next week the outline plans for the Germany Beck development behind Fulford Road and Fordlands Road will be on display in the social hall in School Lane.

Residents have been able to view the plans at City of York Council offices in St Leonard's Place, but this is the first time a display has been organised in Fulford itself.

It was organised by Fulford Parish Council and it is hoped that hundreds of people will take up the opportunity.

Builder Persimmon is behind the huge estate which includes 700 houses, shops and open spaces.

But local people have raised concerns about flooding and the impact the extra traffic will have on local roads.

Parish councillor Christine Dinsdale said that a new housing estate would exacerbate the flooding problem.

She said: "An awful lot of people are concerned about the flooding, that it's not going to be under control.

"The parish council has objected but we don't feel as though anybody is listening to us."

Derek Gauld, principal development officer for City of York Council, said the scheme was in its early stage and it would have to conform to the recently completed design brief of the site.

He said: "We thought that it was such a big site with so many implications that it would be worthwhile putting the application on display.

"There is a certain amount of detail, particularly about access to the A19, and the rest of it is a concept plan.

"There is a design statement in there which gives an idea of what they are aiming to achieve.

"At the moment it is nothing to do with the council, but if it goes ahead we will have to bring it back in line with our development brief of the site."

The exhibition starts next week at the social hall in School Lane.

It will be open on Monday and Friday, between 6pm and 8.30pm, and on Tuesday and Thursday, between 2pm and 4.30pm.

Updated: 10:54 Thursday, August 16, 2001