Bulldozers raze hostel as last-ditch pleas fail

Demolition of the former Peasholme hostel began in earnest this week after calls for a stay of execution were dismissed by the council last month.

The move has been on the cards since a replacement complex for homeless people was built in Fishergate.

Originally the site was needed to clear the way for a new York Council headquarters at Hungate but plans have had to be revised after concerns were raised by English Heritage. The authority hopes to sell the land to another major employer.

Bradford-based demolition firm Gill sent workers in last week to remove some materials from the building, before the demolition began on Monday.

Coun Brian Watson, a Labour member who represents the Guildhall ward, said: "This is a crying shame for a perfectly good building that could have been put to positive short-term use while the long-term future of the site is sorted out.

"But instead, like the site behind it, this site will probably sit as a pile of compacted rubble for the next who knows how long.

"It could have easily accommodated backpackers or children on school trips in the short-term, until its future is confirmed."

Demolition was not a good use of taxpayers' money, he said.

But York Council's leader Andrew Waller said the site was identified for relocation of civil service jobs months ago.

"Labour did not object at that time to the site being cleared and archaeology being sorted out so it could be readily used with the redevelopment of that site."