RESIDENTS furious at the University of York campus extension plans have branded the institution a "greedy" and "bullying" neighbour.

The view was aired at a stormy community meeting in which householders living near the site were given information about the Heslington East proposals.

University chiefs have unveiled plans to expand its Heslington campus on to 65 hectares of farmland to the east of the village, almost doubling the institution's size and increasing student capacity by 50 per cent.

Key features of the campus could include a large lake along the south side of the site; a central "movement spine" for a tram or electric vehicle as well as pedestrians and cyclists; green buffer zones near Heslington village and along Field Lane.

The extension could link with the existing campus to create a centre of learning that stretches from Grimston Bar to Heslington Hill, and the University was last night hoping to win local support for its proposals.

But in a statement read out at the meeting in Archbishop Holgate's School, John Jones, spokesman for the Heslington Village Forum, said there was "massive opposition" to the plans.

"The university has proved itself to be a greedy, arrogant and bullying neighbour - only now, when it wants yet more Green Belt land, has it begun a charm offensive," he said.

"If the case for expansion of the university is actually proven - and at present it is not - then the proper place for it is on the brownfield site of York Central."

But Coun David Wilde, whose ward borders the proposed campus, said: "At the end of the meeting quite a few people came up to me and said they were in favour of the plans. Many of the things said were negative, but I don't think people had properly thought it through."

Resident Angela Fisher, of Main Street, Heslington, said: "We need more Green Belt, not more building. The village doesn't want this. They should be making use of brownfield sites."

A resident from Badger Hill added: "The traffic round here is ridiculous already. You just can't get anywhere, but this will make it twice as bad. Students are already making a terrible racket."

Professor Brian Cantor, the vice-chancellor, told the meeting: "We could not put forward an appropriate plan without getting input from you. We're trying to take on board the things you're saying."

University of York spokeswoman Hilary Layton said: "It's really important that people have the chance to put their views across. This meeting was part of a very long consultation. We've received a lot of messages of support from organisations and individuals.

"We've had a good relationship with the village trust and the parish council."

matthew.woodcock@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, March 04, 2003