Selby revamp 'not done deal'

They still hope to halt Dransfield Properties' £16 million plan to extend the town's Morrisons store and build three new shops - even though the project was granted planning permission last month.

The controversial plan will also see the Abbey Primary School and the Abbey Vaults pub demolished, and a new school built in the Civic Centre's car park.

Selby District Council effectively holds a veto over the scheme because it relies on the authority selling its staff car park and the public car park in James Street.

Coun Brian Marshall said the huge development would "devastate" Selby's town centre and called on councillors to oppose any move to sell off its land.

He said: "I'm unhappy with the thought of losing the car parks to Morrisons and to the new school. The parking charges are already going up.

"If this comes off, people are going to have nowhere to park in town and therefore they are not going to come to Selby.

"I feel it would have a serious effect on the market and, as a market town, it would be disastrous."

To apply for planning permission, a developer is not required to own the land concerned or to have the consent of the landowner.

An application to build a new primary school in the Civic Centre's car park was approved in February by North Yorkshire County Council.

Coun Marshall said: "The development cannot go ahead unless the district council sell their car parks. The council has still got a veto over the development if they want it.

"My message to people is to lobby their councillors to save their car parks and the vibrancy of the town centre."

Coun Steve-Shaw-Wright added: "It is not a done deal. I believe that, morally, it would have to be a fairly large majority in favour of the sale because of the long-term impact it would have on the town."

A spokeswoman for Dransfield Properties said the firm had no comment to make.

Updated: 09:28 Tuesday, May 02, 2006