Deputy prime minister John Prescott today gave the green light to York's controversial park and ride scheme.

Mr Prescott announced that he would not intervene in the row over the City of York Council's plan to build the facility on green belt land at Rawcliffe. The news brought dismay to environmental protesters who objected to the loss of green belt land, and residents who feared the giant car park would bring unwanted congestion, noise and pollution to their doorstep.

But it was welcomed by the council, who received the news in a letter from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions today.

The letter said: "The Secretary of State has now decided on the information before him that the department should not intervene and that the local authority is hereby authorised to decide the application as it thinks fit."

Coun Dave Merrett, deputy leader of City of York Council, said: "This is very good news and vindicates both the council's approach to park and ride and the planning merits of this proposal.

"The York Northern Gateway scheme has been carefully designed to minimise visual and other impacts.

"The decision presents a major step forward in providing a third permanent purpose-built park and ride facility which the city badly needs."

Coun Merrett said he respected the "strong and earnest" feelings of many local residents who objected and said he would like to reassure them that the facility's visual impact would be minimised.

Barry Potter, of campaign group YNET, said: "It is a disaster. What the Government has done is given approval to one of its pet councils, and denied the people the opportunity to publicly highlight the shortcomings of the scheme."

He said the council had got away with being both the developer of the scheme and the planning authority that approved it.

He said: "The Government has effectively drawn a veil over the matter. A public inquiry would have given a chance for people to say to the world what the City of York Council has done."

Steve Galloway, Liberal Democrat opposition spokesman on transport, said: "I am surprised that it has gone ahead without a public inquiry. Local people expected and deserved to have that.

"If it is implemented, the park and ride should not be opened until there are improvements to the A19, specifically to enlarge the roundabout with the ring road."

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh, who has opposed the scheme from the beginning, said it was terrible news. She is this Friday hosting a visit by the Conservative's shadow transport minister, Gillian Shephard, which she hoped would help in the campaign against it.

see NEWS 'Gateway fiercely debated'

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