York goes to battle again over Clifford's Tower

Campaigners opposed to controversial plans for a visitor centre at one of Yorkshire's most famous landmarks have warned planning chiefs that they have ignored a wave of public opposition as they prepare for a High Court battle to block the proposals.
Clifford's Tower at York.Clifford's Tower at York.
Clifford's Tower at York.

English Heritage plans for Clifford’s Tower in York received the green light from the city’s council in October but an opposition group has raised thousands of pounds to pay for a judicial review into the planning process.

Independent York councillor Johnny Hayes said “95 per cent” of residents were against altering the structure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Referring to York Council, he said: “They did not pick up the zeitgeist. They listened to what they wanted to hear and it has created a torrent of objection and those objections were there since day one.

“They tried but maybe they should have tried harder.”

He told The Yorkshire Post that 3,800 people signed a petition against the plan within days of the council’s decision.

“We are talking about one of most important buildings in the country, you can’t do what you want with it. It’s not just a house you can build an extension on.”

English Heritage’s proposals include a visitor centre built into the mound of the tower as well as new stairs and walkways.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A legal crowd-funding page has amassed more than £11,000 to fight the case. Coun Hayes also used £7,000 of his own money and has distributed 2,000 leaflets.

He speculated that if the case is subjected to a full judicial review at the High Court the total cost could be around £30,000.

The case concerns whether planning procedure has been properly followed rather than whether or not the design itself was appropriate. Coun Hayes said if the hearing fell in the campaigners’ favour it would give people another chance to have their say.

York Council insisted procedures were followed and said it was “not unusual for an ‘arguable case’” to face a judicial review.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A spokeswoman said: “The planning application was considered through a fair and democratic process by the council’s planning committee.

“Eighteen representations were submitted by members of the public during this time and were fully considered by the planning committee before making their decision.

“Any representations made after the planning application decision was been approved can not be considered as part of the committee’s decision.”

English Heritage said the plans conserve the building and allow visitors to view aspects that were previously inaccessible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jeremy Ashbee, head properties curator, said: “Far from being driven by money, English Heritage has a core duty to conserve and present buildings and monuments, as testaments to the past and ways for modern people to understand and enjoy it.

“The historic stonework of Clifford’s Tower will be conserved for future generations, it will be possible for people to enter medieval spaces inaccessible for three centuries, and the arduous climb up the grass mound will become much easier. We chose to set the new building into the base of the mound, because that part of the monument was only created in the 1930s – it hides a stone wall of the 19th-century prison, which we will now display – and it provides facilities at the entrance to the monument, exactly where people need them.

“Above all, it will be possible to tell the stories of the castle and its people in ways presently impossible.”

Comment: Page 12.