A LEADING councillor has launched a campaign against plans to sell one of York’s main car and coach parks to pave the way for a university expansion.

City of York Council is looking at allowing York St John University to extend its campus through a deal which would see it buy the neighbouring Union Terrace site, saying the move could create more than 100 jobs and new facilities for students and the public.

But the proposal has been heavily criticised by businesses in nearby Gillygate, who say the loss of the car and coach park would lead to them losing passing trade.

Now Coun Ian Gillies, who leads the council’s Conservative group, has said it should be abandoned.

Council leader James Alexander has said the sale would provide at least £2 million for a “Reinvigorate York” plan aimed at revitalising the city centre and install pay-on-exit parking in car parks.

In a letter to Coun Alexander, Coun Gillies said he felt there was “no alternative provision” for the parking facilities lost if Union Terrace was sold and it would mean reduced car park income for the Labour-led council.

He also said Gillygate traders would be “badly affected” and the sale would “discourage residents and visitors from coming into York”.

Coun Gillies also questioned Labour’s support for an university expansion when the party had opposed rising tuition fees amid fears they will dissuade people from entering higher education.

He said: “Coun Alexander is presumptuous to be selling off a major city asset without first having had a dialogue with the people of York on the impact such a sale would have on residents, visitors and shopkeepers.

“I don’t think we should let Labour rush to sell a substantial piece of city-centre property in York so its new cabinet can finance its own schemes.”

Rural West York Conservative councillor Chris Steward, who works in Bootham, said: “If Union Terrace is sold, there is no spare parking capacity, which will mean visitors feeling the centre of York does not want them and going elsewhere. The sale would be bad for traders and I don’t believe it adds up.”

Coun Alexander has said the money from the sale would allow improvements to streets such as Gillygate, which had not seen investment for many years, including new paving, lighting and bins, and this work was needed to enhance York’s tourism image.

A York St John University spokesperson said: “Applications to York St John University have risen significantly over the past two years and we have planned for continued growth over the next five years. The university currently contributes £47 million to the local economy, and a continued high-quality development of the campus will create up to 200 new jobs and generate an additional £45 million.”