THIS parkland oasis could be the future of the Coppergate complex, say campaigners.

The image, of the York Tomorrow Coppergate scheme, was one of five schemes shown to the public in Parliament Street.

Members of the Castle Area Campaign, who are urging refusal of the Coppergate II plan, had a stall in Parliament Street to show Sunday shoppers the five options for development of the Clifford's Tower-based site.

City of York Council has already given permission for an extension of the Coppergate shopping centre.

But that is subject to a public inquiry which is expected to start in January.

Schemes on show included the Land Securities Coppergate II plan, an alternative scheme put forward by local businessman Martin Burgess, one devised by architect Tom Adams, A York Tomorrow scheme to turn the area into public parkland and a proposal to leave it as a car park.

Campaign spokesman Gordon Campbell-Thomas said: "We got an amazing response, despite the rain.

"We were totally inundated with people wanting to sign our petition and make their choice on which scheme they preferred.

"It's important the public are presented with a democratic choice.

"We feel let down by York council because it has not given the public an opportunity to look at all the options.

"If people want a car park at Coppergate that is what they should get - the important point is that they make the decision.

The findings of the display will be reported to the public inquiry.

A spokesman for City of York Council said: "When the planning brief was being considered ten years ago there was a huge public debate.

"The council's planning committee can only consider applications which are lodged with the authority's planning office by prospective developers.

Updated: 11:22 Monday, October 22, 2001