Coppergate objectors are being mobilised by a city-wide leafleting campaign.

York's Conservatives are posting thousands of leaflets to city homes urging residents to write to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, asking him to launch an inquiry into the development.

City of York Councillors gave the go-ahead to the Coppergate II proposals, which will transform land surrounding Clifford's Tower and in Piccadilly to provide 250,000 square feet of retail space, with restaurants, offices, flats, leisure facilities and a multi-storey car park.

The proposals were approved despite a huge public protest, but Mr Prescott has the final say.

Michael McIntyre, the prospective Parliamentary Conservative candidate for York, said: "Local Conservatives have previously lodged objections against the Coppergate II development with the city's planning department.

"Our prime concern was that it would be unethical for the council to determine the application because of its financial interest as part owners of the site.

"Now that City of York Council has approved the proposals, we feel even more strongly that the application should be called in by the Secretary of State, especially in view of the scale of objections from the public."

The Conservatives were following the example of the Green Party, which has already started distributing leaflets.

Dave Merrett, Labour councillor and chairman of City of York Council's planning and transport committee, said: "I think this is fairly hypocritical of the Conservatives. It is a complete change of position.

"If you look at the application in 1998, which was much less satisfactory than this one, the only comment we had that time was from the Guildhall Ward Conservative Association which objected to some aspects of the design."

Coun Merrett said the ward branch had no objection in principle to the extension of the Coppergate development. He said: "The Conservatives haven't objected to the principles of this development up until something like the last two years."

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, January 11, 2001