Shopping centre opposed amid fears for city

A campaign is being stepped up against plans to build a multi-million pound retail development on the outskirts of York amid fears the city centre will die out and its unique heritage will be destroyed.

The Dean of York is to chair a public meeting next Monday, which will see the launch of Campaign for York in response to the scheme, which includes a new 6,000-seater stadium for York City FC and York City Knights and a 120,000sq ft Marks and Spencer store.

Developer Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd is also in talks with John Lewis about setting up a store in a similar-sized retail unit in the new development.

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Objectors say the plans submitted in September will have a major impact on the economy and cultural vitality of the city, as well as on the transport network and future sustainable development of York as a whole.

Dave Taylor, York Council’s Green Party councillor for Fishergate, said the campaign was backed by a consortium of people, including politicians, businesses and heritage groups.

“From a football point of view we don’t think York’s already congested ring road is a good place to put a stadium. From a retail point of view, if the footfall is driven away from the city centre it has a massive knock-on effect for everybody else.”

Coun Taylor described plans to close the Marks and Spencer store in the city centre in favour of the new superstore as a “disinvestment” and said the proposed John Lewis store would also take shoppers from the city.

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“The retail space in the city centre is going to die,” he warned. “While York is currently keeping its head above water, there’s a tipping point.”

He also claimed the out-of-town scheme would eventually cause the demise of independent retailers. “Eventually, you will have tumble-weeds blowing down the historic streets of York. That has a knock-on effect for tourism and the economy of the city. If shops don’t occupy the heritage buildings, they aren’t maintained properly and they could deteriorate and history and heritage is what makes York unique – not Marks and Spencer and John Lewis.”

Coun Taylor said York council’s former retail consultants GVA recommended out of town retail expansion should be abandoned.

The meeting will take place at Tempest Anderson Hall, in the Museum Gardens, at 5.45pm and will include speakers from GVA, and York Civic Trust.

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