AS YORK sets about getting back to normal after the floods, businesses in the city should be pulling together to ensure the country and the world knows that everyday life has resumed.

Instead, a potentially damaging split in the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has seen business pitted against business.

Adam Sinclair, of chinaware specialist Mulberry Hall, yesterday resigned his post as chairman of the chamber's retail committee, after storming out of a board meeting. Mr Sinclair was angry at the chamber's about-turn on the proposals to extend the Coppergate Centre in the city.

The board had objected to the controversial scheme but changed its view following alterations to the plans.

Mr Sinclair is now canvassing support for his own new breakaway organisation to represent business in York, and has already received the backing of leading independent businesses in the city, including Brown's department store and Barnitts, both of which have also resigned from the chamber.

Clearly, passions are running high. However, leaving an organisation when matters are not to your liking is never the best way to resolve such difficulties.

Some deep thinking is needed in York's business community. The chamber of commerce has to show leadership at this tricky time and work to pull everyone round for the good of the city.

This business split in York illustrates just how much heat there still is in the future of Coppergate. Positions are now hardening on both sides of the divide, with those who champion the scheme facing the equally passionate York Tomorrow group, which believes the area around Clifford's Tower should be turned into a park.

At a planning meeting next week, the York Tomorrow proposal will be considered head-to-head with Coppergate II.

This clearly gives an emotional boost to the 'green' option, even if York's planners are said to be minded to reject York Tomorrow's bid.

The Coppergate debate, heated at the best of times, is likely to reach boiling point over the next few days.