A EURO MP has visited York to discuss controversial proposals to build houses on an open area of land.

Liberal Democrat MEP Edward McMillan-Scott met residents yesterday to discuss their Save Acomb Moor campaign.

Party spokesman and former city council leader Steve Galloway, who lives near the site, said it had been a surprise inclusion in City of York Council’s plans, as it had been in the draft green belt for several decades and was widely regarded as unsuitable for development because of its raised position.

He said: “The threatened field is currently used to graze horses but there is also a wide variety of wildlife on the moor and in surrounding hedges.

“There is a public right of way across the moor, which is popular with dog walkers and those enjoying a countryside walk.

“More than 200 residents have signed a petition aimed at conserving the moor.”

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “As with all sites, this was submitted by the land owner/agent and has to legally be consulted on under coalition Government policy, of which the Liberal Democrats are part and formed the policy.

“The site did not meet the criteria to be withdrawn from consultation.

“I welcome residents’ comments, although individual comments are more powerful and will have more sway with the Government’s planning inspector than a petition.”

Mr Galloway said he and several hundred other householders would consider themselves to be “potentially adversely affected” if Acomb Moor was built on.

He said: “In total about 4,000 people have easy access to the moor and it is widely used as an informal leisure facility.

“I am wholly opposed to Labour’s reckless ‘high-growth’ draft Local Plan, which would see an additional 22,000 homes built – many on green-belt sites.”