A DECISION on Coppergate Riverside was more distant than ever today after it was disclosed that a public inquiry into the controversial scheme must be adjourned indefinitely.

Taxpayers may face more than double the original bill for the hearing because participants expect it to overrun by more than five weeks.

Four weeks were originally set aside for the public inquiry, at an estimated cost of £110,000.

But it has taken longer than expected to hear evidence and cross-examination.

The inquiry must halt on February 8 as solicitors, barristers and other professionals reschedule their diaries.

It is also likely that a new venue will have to be found.

A City of York Council spokesman said today: "The majority of the fees paid are for the legal people, so it is logical that the extra time would more than double that.

"We may also be struggling to have it at the Guildhall, where it has been for the past few weeks, because that is booked up for all sorts of events."

The inquiry has been hearing evidence for and against the £60 million scheme to redevelop land between Clifford's Tower and Piccadilly - which has been at the centre of a decade of heated debate.

"This is of huge importance to York and if it's judged more time is needed to consider this matter properly, then we support that," said Gordon Campbell Thomas, of the York Castle Campaign.

"Our concern is members of the public will not be able to have their voice any more. I've already taken three weeks of my annual holiday to be at the inquiry. We are not paid thousands a day as barristers are."

John Steel, barrister for City of York Council, said today: "We need one week for the council's evidence, two weeks for third party evidence and one week for York Tomorrow. There is potential to overlap into a fifth week.

"We cannot underestimate the time. We must not squeeze anybody's chance to give evidence, and we don't want to have yet another lengthy adjournment."

A professional ecologist today told the inquiry that the £60 million development would barely have an effect on the area's wildlife.

Richard Tofts, called by developers Land Securities, said: "The impact will be negligible.

"The features of primary interest within the site are the river (Foss) and a small wooded area by the river bank.

"The remainder of the site I consider to be of negligible ecological value."

He said the proposed scheme would retain the river and woodland.

Studies of the area had shown no uncommon plants used it, he said.

Mr Toft said: "Kingfishers occur along the River Foss and birds are occasionally seen within the site, although they breed about 500 metres upstream.

"No animals were noted, and no signs of any water vole or otter activity were observed."

The inquiry was expected to hear from Darrell Buttery, chairman of the York Civic Trust, later today.

Updated: 15:47 Tuesday, January 29, 2002