CITY of York Council leader Steve Galloway has vowed to approach the controversial Coppergate Riverside scheme with a "blank piece of paper".

He moved to reassure the various groups formed in opposition to the rejected Coppergate II development that the council's executive had "no preconceptions at all" about the future of the site.

Executive members voted unanimously last night to approve proposals to identify common objectives, build consensus and community engagement, and clarify the planning framework for the area.

Council bosses say pressure for piecemeal development of Piccadilly on its own must be resisted, and there should be a comprehensive scheme for the whole Coppergate Riverside area.

The Evening Press reported that members of the Castle Area Campaign (CAC) had asked for interested parties to have input into the exact wording of the consultation document so the results could not be disputed.

A £60 million retail and residential scheme, tabled by developers Land Securities, was thrown out by a Government planning inspector last year, after a long public inquiry.

Last night's meeting was addressed by representatives from the CAC and other groups, including York Tomorrow.

Coun Galloway told the meeting that the whole Coppergate II process "was a failure without a shadow of a doubt" which must be avoided in future.

He said: "Whatever comes out of this has got to be practical.

"Providing everyone concedes there are constraints, we can find a way forward."

The matter will be discussed further at a meeting tomorrow, after it was "called in" by the Green Party.

The Greens say a council report on the issue fails to address widespread support for recreational and heritage uses for the Castle Car Park site.

Updated: 14:03 Wednesday, February 04, 2004