OPPOSITION to York University's expansion gathered fresh momentum today, after a support group was formed in an attempt to scupper the scheme.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) organised a meeting for objectors to the planned 280-acre development, which will nearly double the campus size and accommodate 3,300 more students.

A 60-strong audience attended a meeting at Askham Bryan College, and a new umbrella group has been formed to provide a united voice ahead of the expected public inquiry.

Frank Paterson, deputy chairman of the York and Selby branch of the CPRE, said the fledgling group was called PACT (Partnership Against Campus Three).

He said most people at the meeting were CPRE members. However, representatives from Heslington Village Trust and Parish Council were present, alongside village tenant farmer Chris Hawkswell.

As previously reported in the Evening Press, the bulk of his green belt farm will be eaten up if the university plans get the go-ahead.

Nearly 20 people - including students, parish councillors, farmers, residents and conservationists - spoke out against the £500 million development at a recent council planning meeting.

The plans were passed by members after a marathon eight-hour debate - but campaigners are now joining forces in an attempt to torpedo the scheme.

CPRE officials told the meeting they believed the university should expand on the present Heslington campus.

Only 34 acres of the 170-acre site had been built on, and nearly half of that total was car parks and single storey buildings, the meeting was told.

The conservation group maintained there had been no serious study of the scope for building over car parks and replacing the old flat-roofed structures.

Dr Guy Woolley, of the CPRE, said: "We support the university's aspirations to expand. But our prime purpose is to protect the York green belt from inappropriate development.

"We consider that their forecast needs could be met, and an attractive open campus maintained, by allowing building on 30 per cent of the Heslington site."

He said: "We have been talking with other groups of objectors and the intention is to work together to increase the effectiveness of the opposition to the proposals.

"There's no way we can match the resources available to the university, but I'm sure we can create synergy from sharing skills."

Mr Hawkswell said: "It makes sense to pool resources rather than coming at things from different angles.

"We have to grasp at every straw available."

A university spokesman said the CPRE's views were taken into account by council planners. Increasing the building density at the current campus would alter a "fundamental characteristic" of the university, he said.

Updated: 10:05 Tuesday, April 12, 2005