THE lid has finally been lifted on what the people of York really thought of the city’s controversial council headquarters project.
Thousands of householders took the chance to air their views last year over the multi-million-pound HQ move, but until now the comments have been under wraps.
After a seven-month battle by The Press though, City of York Council has now revealed the full results of its consultation, carried out after the collapse of the original proposal for a purpose-built HQ at Hungate and the subsequent decision to focus on transforming an existing building.
While many praised the move and suggested improvements, hundreds of others were unhappy – both with the move and the way they were consulted.
Many criticised the questionnaire, which cost about £23,000, and were unhappy that it requested views on the development without asking people to vote for their preferred site from the options of West Offices, in Station Rise, and insurance giant Aviva’s Yorkshire House.
Comments included:
•“Don’t waste taxpayers’ money by producing such documents (the questionnaire) when our opinions seem to have little or no influence.”
•“This is a total waste of my money. I and the rest of York have elected you to represent us, so please use that to make decisions – that is your duty.”
•“It seems a little bizarre that you are asking questions yet are not wanting to know which option residents prefer.”
West Offices was more widely supported and ultimately chosen as the new HQ site. Supportive comments included:
•“West Offices would promote York’s heritage and be a fitting use of one of our landmark buildings.”
•“Please let’s have a building, like West Offices, which will be pleasing to look at and fit in with the York atmosphere, not another concrete and glass box-like monstrosity.”
A planning application for West Offices is to be submitted within months and the scheme is earmarked for completion by the end of 2012.
•Under the Freedom of Information Act, The Press asked the council for all responses to the open-ended question asking for general comments on the project. A complete list of public comments can be seen at
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