March 6th 2000: HUNDREDS of greenfield campaigners fighting plans for massive house building marched through Winchester on Satur-day in one of the biggest demonstrations the city has ever seen.

Led by legendary King Arthur Pendrag-on and his Druid supporters, the procession of local residents, councillors and conservation groups bearing 'Save Winchester' placards and bright green balloons was applauded by shoppers and traders as it made its way through the High Street.

The march was the culmination of months of public meetings, debates and petition raising over highly contentious plans for the development of 2,000 new homes at Barton Farm.

But the campaigners also took the opportunity to air their anger over equally controversial proposals to extend the city's park-and-ride site on a popular water meadow site at Bar End.

Placards reading "cows not commuters" and "green not greed" summed up the fierce opposition to government plans threatening Winchester's precious open spaces.

The march was organised by the Save Barton Farm Group, Winchester Land-scape Conservation Alliance and the city residents' association, who urged everyone who cares about the future of the city to join their crusade.

Chairman of the conservation alliance, Deborah Falconer, warned that 2,000 new homes could just be the tip of the iceberg, as the Winchester north area stretches from Barton Farm to Kings Worthy and encompasses Littleton as well as land towards Sparsholt.

"The time has come for the politicians to be accountable for their actions," she said. "The countryside across the whole of the city and the county is under severe pressure and the campaigners say enough is enough."

Addressing the crowds at the Guildhall, chairman of the Save Barton Farm group, Gavin Blackman, said Winchester's unique character and landscape would be destroyed if the proposals went ahead.

He said: "This is an historical day and Winchester is at a crossroads in its history. If this development goes ahead it will change Winchester for ever and it will affect everyone and impact on our schools and hospitals.

"It is time to have more public demonstrations in Winchester to show the strength of public feeling."

Chairman of the Winchester Meadows Conservation Alliance, Keith Story, said: "If we fail to persuade politicians and planners to halt these developments, a city and landscape that have remained essentially unspoiled for hundreds of years will be ruined in a single generation by a single administration."

A petition highlighting the Save Winchester campaign is to be presented to the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, urging him to personally intervene and stop development at Barton Farm.