LOCAL residents say they are 'completely devastated' by plans to build a new caravan park near their homes at Poppleton, York.

Householders in Northfield Lane claim the proposed 117-pitch site on 10 acres of Green Belt farmland will not only destroy the outlook from their homes but also the habitat for wildlife from nearby woodland,

They also argue it would be premature for such a scheme to be considered until York's Local Plan has been agreed, and claim permission would create a dangerous precedent for the development of other Green Belt land across the York area.

Two residents, Jane Plant and Dianne Davies, have spoken out after The Press recently revealed that landowner Stephen Otley had submitted an outline planning application to City of York Council to transform the land, currently leased for farming, near the Poppleton Park&Ride site.

He said Wheatlands Wood Touring Park would involve 95 caravan pitches, 10 luxury camping pods and 12 tent pitches, and create a £3.26 million direct economic boost to York through visitor spend and park spend, as well as indirect spending of £506,699, and also create 68 new permanent full-time equivalent jobs.

Jane and Dianne said their terrace of six homes projected into the fields, and the caravan park would end up surrounding them on three sides. "We are completely devastated," they said.

They said they believed City of York Council should not consider the application until it had finally drawn up a Local Plan for York, as it would be premature.

"It would also set a dangerous precedent for any piece of Green Belt land in York for it to be approved,"they claimed.

"Wildlife from the woodland used the field for foraging, such as owls and birds of prey."

They added that the terrace was a close-knit community, which would fight strongly' against the scheme.

They said the proposal would be discussed at a special meeting called by Upper Poppleton Parish Council. which takes place at 7pm next Monday at Upper Poppleton Community Centre.

Mr Otley was unavailable for comment.