THE development of Barton Farm would wreck what makes Winchester a special place, according to a veteran campaigner.

Alan Weeks said it was crucial to retain the city's landscape setting and that meant rejecting plans to develop 2,000 homes on farmland on the northern edge of the city.

He was speaking at the Winchester district local plan public inquiry, which is considering the planning blueprint until 2011.

Barton Farm is earmarked by planners as a reserve major development area, which means building could be triggered if there is deemed to be a need.

There is massive local opposition, especially from people living in the Abbotts Barton, Weeke and Harestock areas.

Mr Weeks, chairman of the city residents' association, said the city could not be separated from its countryside and that its setting was vital.

He also said the impact of traffic from the new development would strangle the city.

He said: "There will be 14,000 extra traffic movements a day, coming into the city, crossing the city and leaving. The notion that the people will use public transport, cycle or walk is so fanciful and away from reality."

Nigel Green, city council planner, said government policy was to encourage non-car use.

He said: "We have to try to promote sustainable transport. If we cannot promote sustainable transport on this site (Barton Farm) less than two miles from the city centre then the policy is doomed to failure.

"We must be optimistic that we can persuade people out of their cars."

Mr Weeks replied: "It is alright to have dreams but if they are detached from reality then they are not going to go very far. There is no way this policy (public transport) is going to be successful."

Mr Green denied that Barton Farm was a green wedge that penetrates the city in the same way as the River Itchen water meadows.