ARCHAEOLOGICAL findings at the site of a planned model village on the outskirts of York will be revealed at a public meeting next week.

But objectors to the development, which could see the building of 540 homes in Metcalfe Lane, will be disappointed if they had pinned their hopes on a major archaeological disovery.

Excavation co-ordinator with York Archaeoligical trust David Brinklow said the study involved a number of different investigations, but nothing significant was found.

He said: "We did not find anything terrible exciting - largely the area appears to have been agricultural throughout the time York has been inhabited.

"We held an open day where people came and helped sieve all the soil and they found a few bits and pieces, but nothing groundbreaking."

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and City of York Council have joined forces to produce a plan for "New Osbaldwick". A draft development brief for the site was approved in March and will be used as a basis for consultation with all relevant parties, and also by any prospective developer as formal guidance in finalising a master plan for the site.

But local residents are concerned about the effects the development will have on the area. Chairman of Osbaldwick Parish Council, Malcolm Kettlestring, said one of the big worries was the potential traffic problems which could add to the problems already in existence.

The director of housing operations at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Roland Crooke, said although he knew people had concerns about the development, next week's meeting was about the archaeological aspect.

He said: "I would encourage people to come along to find out what we discovered. They will be able to see how archaeology can exist with development."

The meeting will take place in the main hall, Burnholme Community College, Bad Bargain Lane, on Tuesday, at 7pm.

It is open to members of the public and will be attended by representatives of York Archaeological Trust, City of York Council and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Updated: 12:07 Monday, July 15, 2002