Following the decision to throw out the proposed Coppergate Riverside scheme, ROSSLYN SNOW gauges the opinions of residents and visitors in York.

FOR Cynthia May, a first-time visitor to York, the thought of a new shopping centre was hard to comprehend.

Cynthia, 48, who hails from Nairn, in Scotland, said: "We heard about York, the great historic city, so we came for the history and for the small shops.

"Everybody has got shopping centres, so they are not much of an attraction. If I came back in ten years and there was a shopping centre there I would be very disappointed."

Jez Willard, 37, owns The Japanese Shop in Coppergate. He said: "I was expecting the scheme to go through because I think that anything that gives the shoppers of York, both locals and visitors, greater choice has to be beneficial to the city.

"I guess I am disappointed."

College student Abid Khan, 18, of Huddersfield, said: "We came here for the history, for a college project, but if there was a shopping centre here everybody would be in it.

"We are not that interested in history, we have to do it, but if there was better shopping here I would visit York again."

Jessie Bates, 78, of Taunton, Somerset, said: "It's the ancient qualities of the city that we came for, not for the shopping."

Julia Bunyan, 27, of York, said: "It's a shame from the retail point of view. It would have brought more business down that end of town, but the scheme has got to be right."

Conrad Pointon, 36, of York, said: "I'm glad it's been thrown out. If they build a new shopping centre it will just kill off other parts of the town and business will move to that part of town.

"It would be nice to have a park there, but I can't see that happening."

Trevor Appleyard, 55, of Leeds, came to York with his wife, Andrea, to go shopping.

He said: "My wife likes the shopping area here and the quality of the shops. I bring the dog and go walking along the river while she shops. I like the whole ambience. It doesn't need anything else. A new shopping centre would make it just like any other town."

Shirley Copland, 55, of Scarborough, said: "I think the council needs to look at all the empty shops before they start building new ones. I would hate to see another shopping centre here."

Lynn Jackson, 37, also of Scarborough, said: "Coppergate is bad enough without putting another ugly building next to Clifford's Tower. We will destroy the heritage."

Updated: 11:55 Thursday, September 11, 2003