ENGLISH Heritage says it expects to begin work on a new visitors centre at Clifford’s Tower in a few weeks’ time - despite a growing backlash.

City of York Council’s planning committee last week voted 11-3 in favour of the scheme for a centre at the foot of the tower’s motte.

Independent councillor Johnny Hayes said yesterday that more than 2,000 people had since signed a petition against the proposal and a demonstration is being planned at the tower at 11am on Sunday.

“The Visitor Centre design looks like a toilet block sticking out of the base of this beautiful monument,” he claimed. “It will ruin the iconic view. In short, it is the wrong building in the wrong place.”

But English Heritage head curator Jeremy Ashbee said it had consulted widely with the public as part of the planning application process.

“We’re aware that there are still objections to the project and we’re happy to discuss with anyone the pressing reasons behind it – that the present facilities at Clifford’s Tower are inadequate, poorly accessible and inappropriate for a site of this importance,” he said.

“And visitors to Clifford’s Tower agree - few repeat their visit and few would recommend a visit. Something has to be done. This project will reveal more of the historic tower, tell its history better than ever before, and do this international, national, and local landmark justice.

“The Clifford’s Tower Revealed project received planning permission last week and English Heritage expects to begin work on site in a few weeks’ time.”

Independent Cllr Mark Warters said he had written to York Outer MP Julian Sturdy to ask for his support for the campaign of opposition and had also asked the MP to investigate whether an appropriate Minister of State could issue a ‘stop notice’ on the planning permission, pending a thorough independent reappraisal.

Mr Sturdy said it would not be appropriate for him to make the request as the site was outside his constituency but he would ask English Heritage to seriously consider residents’ strongly held views before progressing with the project.

A council spokeswoman said the issue would not go to the Secretary of State because Historic England - the regulatory body - had not objected.