A STAR of stage and screen has backed residents fighting to stop 70 new homes being built on fields next to their homes.

Dame Judi Dench said it would be a “great pity” to lose the field on Windmill Lane, which is owned by York St John University, but used by local football teams throughout the season.

Campaigners wrote to the York-born James Bond star and urged her to support their campaign.

York Press:

Dame Judi who grew up in Heworth said: “I think it is a great pity to lose yet another playing field, which will affect all the young people in the area. I wish you success with the campaign.”

A decision has already been deferred by City of York Council’s Planning Committee and residents hope they will reject the plans outright when they are heard again on June 15.

In the meantime, they have called on York St John University to drop their planning application.

John Cossham, a resident and campaigner, said: “What we would like is for York St John to withdraw their application - that is our demand.

“At the moment they have an application and it’s going to the Planning Committee on June 15 and we are working hard to object to that.

“It’s a boost for the campaign and we are obviously pleased when people who have a name in York see sense.

“What we would like to do is ask York St John to withdraw their application so we can have a proper conversation about what happens to the area and can find a sustainable way forward which could involve someone buying the fields off them.”

The campaign has gained a large following from people of all generations against the plans.

On Saturday around 60 people who live in Windmill Lane walked an hour and 15 minutes between the playing fields to the university’s site in Haxby Road.

Residents have used a Health England study, which says any alternative green space should be no more than a 15 minutes walk away, to highlight how far away they are from other fields.

Campaigners have also gathered around 1,300 signatures against the development.

They have handed in the petition to City of York Council and called on the authority “to honour its promise to ensure valued community facilities are protected” and ensure the council designate the land as Local Green Space.

Rob Hickey, York St John University’s executive director for Innovation and Growth, said they have met with the residents and explained their position.

He said: “This is private land, no longer used as university playing fields and has not been made available as public playing or recreation space.

“The university is not able to make this land available for a purpose outside its charitable objectives.

“As a charity we have a responsibility to make best use of our assets to provide the highest quality education.

“We have also invested significantly in the new sports fields at Haxby Road and we are actively supporting increased community use of these new facilities.”