CAMPAIGNERS say the “extremely strong” response to their petition underlines the strength of opposition to controversial plans to sell a York car and coach park.

More than 11,000 people have now signed a petition protesting against the plan to sell Union Terrace car and coach park to York St John University as part of its campus expansion plans.

More than 150 shops, restaurants, offices, community centres and social clubs in the city centre have been collecting signatures against the proposal.

The group have collected 11,287 signatures in a fortnight and about 1,600 letters have already been handed in to the city’s MPs Hugh Bayley and Julian Sturdy.

Campaign spokesman Mark Braithwaite said that while the number of signatures collected had come as a surprise, it underlined the “extremely strong” opposition to the proposal. He said: “People are signing for diverse reasons.

“This is a much bigger issue than shops along Gillygate.

“It’s about the viability of a city and a community.”

He said concerns had been raised by local traders, buskers, schools, church bodies, the Salvation Army, the elderly or disabled needing easy access to Gillygate surgery, and football fans who all rely on the car park.

Council leader James Alexander had said the deal would provide new jobs and at least £2 million for a “Reinvigorating York” scheme, to revitalise the city centre.

But the scheme has met growing anger from the public and local traders.

Mr Braithwaite said the Save Union Terrace Car Park group had been angered by council’s refusal to listen to public opinion.

He said: “In the Your Voice magazine delivered to every house in York in the past week, there are lots of buzz words and happy smiling councillors back-slapping each other, yet no mention of the plan to sell this public asset,” he said.

“As a life-long Labour voter I am enraged by the York Labour Group; all three other parties have come out against this plan.

“People have signed the petition because this is a bad idea, not because of party politics.”

Labour yesterday vowed to consult fully on the issue before any final decision is made.