Coppergate would be 'improvement'

Land Securities' barrister Robert White said the Castlegate car park and buildings in Piccadilly were damaging to the historic area in the shadow of Clifford's Tower.

"The present situation of the setting of Clifford's Tower and the buildings around the Eye of York is lamentable," he said.

"The existing Castlegate car park, the drab backs of the buildings in Piccadilly on the other side of the Foss and the sombre looming presence of Ryedale House seriously detract from what should be one of the glories of York.

"Every passing year or decade that these sad blemishes continue, the harm to the city, its exceptional buildings and its conservation area is multiplied."

Land Securities is proposing to build shops, offices and residential accommodation on the existing Castlegate car park and land stretching into Piccadilly.

The controversial proposals have been at the centre of the inquiry which began in January. Mr White said objectors had been unable to put forward serious arguments against it during the inquiry, which has cost taxpayers £250,000.

He said: "No professional witnesses with expertise in these matters have been put forward by any party who seeks to assert either that there is no need for this development or that its effects would be harmful in shopping terms."

He said that extra space for shops must be found in the city.

"If these needs are not met in York, they will almost certainly be met out of York," he said.

"This will be to the ultimate detriment of the city. Retail development here will add substantially to the vitality and viability of York. It is the only realistic opportunity for retail development of this scale in the city."

A separate inquiry will next week hear an appeal by York Tomorrow, which had an application to turn the area into open park land refused by City of York Council.

Updated: 10:01 Saturday, August 03, 2002