Flooding topped the agenda as residents of a York suburb met officials to get answers about the impact a massive housing development could have on them.

Residents of Fulford got together at a public meeting at Fulford School to quiz officers from City of York Council, the Environment Agency and Yorkshire Water.

Some dwelt on the problems caused by last November's flooding disaster, while others looked to the future and expressed their fears about how the proposed 600-home Germany Beck development might exacerbate flooding problems.

Fulford ward councillor Mick Brighton said residents must make the effort to get their voices heard by the city's planners.

He also tried to calm the fears of the 200 or so residents at the meeting who were concerned that the scheme might go ahead without regard to flooding.

He told them: "Nobody in their right mind is going to build a development which is clearly flawed. Our job is to find out if there are flaws in the plan, point them out and get these flaws remedied."

Derek Gauld, project development officer for City of York Council, said the problems which flooding could potentially cause would have to be seriously examined.

There were also concerns about possible chaos on the already hugely congested A19 area close to the proposed development.

One resident said: "I cannot see how building 600 houses is going to help the A19 junction in an already saturated area."

The number of children expected to live in the new development will also have implications for schools in the area, such as Fulford School.

One woman suggested to representatives of the council: "Could I ask that at the earliest possible stage, you ask those involved at these schools what they need and what is required?

Updated: 12:33 Wednesday, February 14, 2001