MORE people have objected to plans to turn Bootham Crescent into homes than any other planning application in City of York Council history.

By yesterday, planning officers had received 1,479 letters from people regarding Persimmon's plans to turn the home of York City into 93 flats and houses.

Paul Edwards, of the council's planning department, said the vast majority of those letters were from people opposed to Persimmon's plans.

He revealed that the number of objections was nearly FIVE times more than those received for the controversial Coppergate scheme.

Only the plans to build an incinerator at Rufforth received a comparable number of letters - 1,066.

The huge response makes Persimmon's application the most unpopular the council has ever seen in its seven-year existence.

Mr Edwards said: "It is still unclear when the application will be heard. There are a whole raft of issues that need to be resolved.

"One of those is the definitive view of the council in terms of whether the actual facility of the football club ground is of such importance to the city that the application could not be heard until an alternative place is found."

Ian Hessay, managing director of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: "Persimmon has met with planning officers from City of York Council and is aware of the objections lodged by third parties against the proposed development at Bootham Crescent.

"The vast majority of complainants do not oppose the principal of redevelopment at Bootham Crescent, but wish to ensure that the club has suitable alternative premises to play at before redevelopment takes place.

"This is an issue which Persimmon fully appreciates and is continuing to work with the club in this respect."

Meanwhile, council chiefs were accused of a "lack of political will" ahead of today's deadline for parties to lodge bids to take over the club.

The Friends of Bootham Crescent blasted councillors, saying their "inaction" could lead to the death of the club.

The group's anger followed early responses to a questionnaire sent to every councillor in York.

The questionnaire asked them for their opinions on five questions including: "If York City FC moves from Bootham Crescent should the ground still be designated as a sports facility?"

Conservative leader John Galvin told the group: "There are a number of complicated issues that cannot be quantified by your questionnaire."

Updated: 11:38 Thursday, January 16, 2003