DOCTORS at a York surgery have welcomed plans to ease parking for patients as part of the controversial Connaught Court development.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI), which runs the established residential home, plans to relieve on-street parking by providing a new parking area for the busy Fulford surgery as part of its scheme to redevelop the site

A storm of protest has blown up since the charity submitted outline plans to City of York Council for residential development in the grounds of Connaught Court, a home for more than 100 older and mentally frail residents.

The charity recently withdrew its original proposals for the site, and has now submitted new plans designed to improve the existing facilities and to provide additional accommodation for frail older people. It has reduced the number of houses from 54 to 46.

Developers claim the scheme, which will be considered by the planning committee later this year, creates a new public access "green corridor" through the previously private site. It retains the established trees and proposes significant new tree planting.

Andrew White, RMBI's property director, said: "In looking at how the site might be developed, we noted the danger and congestion which resulted from visitors to the neighbouring surgery parking on Main Street, and the nuisance to residents of Fulford Park caused by patients parking there.

"As part of our revised proposition, we are offering to create a new and safer parking area, in line with the surgery's needs."

This will provide seven new parking spaces on an area adjacent to a pathway linking it to the surgery.

David Gill, surgery practice manager, welcomed the move. He said: "Overflow parking in Fulford Park is inconvenient for local residents, and the existing access is near to traffic lights on Main Street. Access via the proposed new road into the planned development would be preferable, and the additional spaces the RMBI is proposing would reduce parking pressures."

But Green Party councillor Andy D'Agorne said: "They are just trying to put a gloss on the scheme which has received a lot of local opposition. From my point of view, the surgery serves the local community and as far as possible people will walk there anyway."

Coun D'Agorne said the proposed development site was a very significant part of the landscape and provided a natural boundary between Fulford village and the rest of York.

"Fulford would lose its identity," he said.

Updated: 10:46 Wednesday, March 23, 2005