SPARK:YORK, the planned street food and start-up business centre built out of old shipping containers, is to go ahead in York. It can operate for three years on the former Reynards Garage site on Piccadilly, planners say.

That’s a bold decision, and one that not everyone in York will like.

The Spark: York proposals have pretty much left the city divided. Supporters think it’s a great idea: a colourful, fun, exciting venture that will bring new life and colour to an area of York that has long been desperately in need of them – as well as creating much-needed jobs and business opportunities.

Opponents argue it will be smelly, messy and noisy – and the last thing a major city centre street finally showing signs of regeneration really needs.

We’ve always thought it a great idea in principle, but have questioned whether this is the right place for it. Now that planners have given the go-ahead, however, we’d like to see the people of York swing wholeheartedly behind it.

This beautiful city of ours is sometimes accused of being a bit stuck in the mud.

Spark:York certainly won’t be that. Its blend of street food, craft and fashion stalls and community office space for young start-ups will be fresh and different. The young entrepreneurs behind it, meanwhile, had already promised that they’d close outdoor areas after 9pm and move food stalls away from homes to minimise disturbance.

Spark:York will make Piccadilly, which for too long has been depressed and neglected, a destination in its own right. And it will provide somewhere for the city’s people to go in those “dead hours” from 5-8pm.

It will only be there for three years. Let’s make the most of it.