PROTESTORS braved torrential rain showers to voice their opposition to the proposed closure of the Union Terrace car and coach park in York.

Campaigners lobbied members of City of York Council cabinet before it met at Priory Street Centre yesterday afternoon.

The ruling Labour party’s plans to sell off the car and coach park have aroused strong opposition over fears it would devastate business for Gillygate traders and make it harder for patients and relatives to visit nearby York Hospital and Gillygate Surgery.

Labour says the sell-off to York St John University for a campus extension would open the way to plough £2 million into a city-centre revitalisation scheme, introduce pay-on-exit parking and create more than 100 jobs.

The plans provoked such a public backlash, the council’s Liberal Democrat group has used little-known council rules to force an extraordinary full council meeting on August 4 where they will press for the scheme to be withdrawn.