MILLIONS of pounds in grant funding could go to historic quarters in York.

Campaigners trying to give a new cultural and commercial identity to historic streets near York Minster say they have “won over” directors of Yorkshire Forward.

David Brooks, chairman of the Minster Quarter campaign group, said that, with council support, the ‘MQ’ model was currently being emulated in an attempt to raise the fortunes of Micklegate and neighbouring streets.

“As the city parcels itself up in this way, with businesses taking a more active role in shaping the fate of their districts, it opens itself up to millions of pounds of funding through Yorkshire Forward’s Urban Renaissance Programme within the next four years,” he said.

Now he has invited 300 shops, restaurants, pubs and other businesses in the district, which includes Stonegate, High and Low Petergate, Goodramgate, Gillygate, Duncombe Place, Swinegate, Church Street, Blake Street, Monk Bar and Lord Mayor’s Walk, to put their weight behind the project.

He said only 50 had so far signed up to the quarter, but a crunch meeting was being held at 10am next Tuesday at the Slug & Lettuce in Back Swinegate, in a bid to recruit new members and give a progress report to existing members.

Mr Brooks, who is general manager of the city’s Dean Court Hotel, said the quarter scheme was a determined attempt to give the distinct area an identity that sought to draw and retain both visitor and resident alike.

“Minster Gates has become a new centre of gravity for a district defined by the sheer diversity of its shopping and leisure facilities as well as by the architectural splendour of its streets and buildings, especially the Minster itself,” he said.

“The planned multi-million pound Minster Piazza in Deangate is going to give a phenomenal boost to the MQ.

“The obvious good sense behind the MQ approach has won over both the council leadership and programme directors at Yorkshire Forward. We want to tell everyone the good news at our meeting next week.

The MQ is not just about shops and restaurants. It is open to any business, whether it is an artist’s studio, a university college or a doctor’s surgery.”