PROPOSALS to demolish a York car hire business and build new flats and a shop have been thrown out after planners received 222 letters of objection.

The proposal by businessman Robert Pulleyn to build 14 flats and a retail unit on the site of Budget Car Hire in Clifton had been recommended for approval by City of York Council officers.

But hundreds of local residents wrote to the council to oppose the scheme, claiming that the shop would be too large, that air and noise pollution would increase and that the site was too close to a busy crossroads, and would be dangerous for children, pedestrians and cyclists.

They also claimed the new shop would damage trade for small shops nearby and there was insufficient parking available. Clifton Planning Panel and York Civic Trust both claimed the shop plan was excessive for the area.

Now the East Area Planning Committee has rejected the planning application Labour councillor David Scott, who spoke at the meeting to urge members to listen to the views of the 222 objectors, welcomed the decision, saying: "This should be seen as a victory for the residents. They want to protect the nature and character of Clifton and the conservation area."

He claimed that the development was out of character for the conservation area and that Clifton did not need a large retail unit of this nature, which would have wider implications for traffic in the area.

"Clifton needs family housing, not a supermarket and flats," he said. "This site lends itself to a courtyard development of family houses.

"Whilst this application might be better than the garage that occupies the site now, we should be seeking the best for Clifton, not second best."

Coun Ken King, who proposed the rejection of the application, said: "It is time for this committee to listen to the residents of Clifton, where 222 people have taken the trouble to write to the council objecting. I have no doubt if a wider survey was done the number would be many, many more."

Mr Pulleyn said the decision was a "bit of a surprise", as he and his arctitect had worked hard to come up with a compromise scheme that had been acceptable to council officers and which he believed would have enhanced the area and would have been an improvement on the car hire garage.

Asked if he planned to appeal, he said he was taking stock before making a decision.