PARISH council chiefs objecting to development plans for Huntington handed over more than 1,200 letters of objection at a council meeting.

Roy Jones, of Huntington Parish Council, blasted plans to develop the area at a meeting to discuss changes to the green belt in City of York Council's local plan.

Along with parish council colleague Chris Bradshaw, the pair said the village was totally opposed to further plans to develop Huntington and, in particular, the area around Monks Cross Shopping Centre.

They passed 1,280 objections on to the council showing the "great concern" residents had with new development plans.

Coun Jones said: "Huntington is expected to absorb 71 percent of the commercial development and 32 per cent of the housing development before 2011.

"Land status has been changed... and taken without any reference to Huntington Parish Council. It is outrageous, unacceptable and undemocratic.

"Huntington Parish Council strongly objects to any further development at Monks Cross."

Coun Bradshaw added: "We are totally opposed to the continuing development of the parish. All of us living in Huntington have suffered tremendous decline in the quality of life.

"Vehicle pollution is causing great concern. Any further reduction of green belt land will cause great concern.

"Huntington has a high water table. This (green belt scheme) renders the parish at further risk of flooding."

Meanwhile, councillors accepted a Liberal Democrat amendment to proposals regarding the provision of new public open space.

The plans, which include measures to provide green field sites specifically for leisure activities, were accepted after the motion asking for a commitment to look at providing more woodland was agreed.

Lib Dem leader, Coun Steve Galloway, raised concerns that people did not have access to parkland or woodland near to their homes.

His motion was unanimously supported by councillors on the planning committee and the green belt working group.

But another Lib Dem amendment raising concern over the reserving of land in many locations, was rejected with Labour chairmen Dave Merrett and Martin Brumby applying the critical casting votes.

The meeting was effectively adjourned and reconvened to a later date after councillors decided they could not consider detailed amendments to plan changes.

A document outlining the changes was only handed out shortly before the meeting started.

Updated: 12:20 Thursday, August 29, 2002