MORE than £4,000 has been donated to a legal challenge over plans for the Clifford’s Tower visitor centre.

Some £4,400 has been pledged in a crowdfunding appeal launched by York city councillor Johnny Hayes.

Cllr Hayes is challenging the plans for a new visitor centre at the historic tower.

There are still 20 days to go on the crowdfunding appeal, and Cllr Hayes needs to raise another £3,400.

He said: “I did not enter into this lightly. My wife Frankie and I have paid almost £7,500 of our own money to bring the case to permission stage.

“However we are crowdfunding to raise the money needed for this and the Judicial Review.

“We are very grateful for the tremendous support that this appeal have received. However there is still a way to go to.”

In October, City of York Council gave English Heritage planning permission for a visitor centre to be built into the side of the Clifford’s Tower mound.

Thousands signed a petition opposing it after the permission was granted, and Cllr Hayes has now launched a legal challenge questioning the legality of the decision.

The case should go before a High Court Judge in mid to late January, when they will decide whether the planning permission was flawed, and whether it should go forward to a full hearing for a Judicial Review in the High Court.

The appeal is online at www.crowdjustice.org/case/cliffords-tower/.