MORE than 1,200 people have voiced their concerns about plans to take a swathe of land in the Huntington area out of York's green belt.

They claim that a residential and commercial development scheme proposed for the Monks Cross and New Lane area would pose a real threat to the quality of life in the area.

City of York Council planners are considering new boundaries to the city's green belt, which will determine which land will be available for housing developments and industry.

Under the proposals, which have now gone out to public consultation, the Monks Cross area would take about a third of the city's proposed green belt housing development by 2011.

Villagers who have objected to the plans have sent a letter, expressing their views, to City of York Council.

The letter has received the support of the parish council.

Keith Hyman, the chairman of Huntington Parish Council, said the area was under real threat, unless the proposals were challenged and altered.

"The quality of life here is already being eroded by traffic chaos, and noise, light and air pollution," he said.

"Rapidly growing levels of traffic affect our residents, and every other user of the ring road, let alone those trying to navigate the Hopgrove junctions of the Malton Road, the A1237, and the A64.