THE future of York could be decided in London rather than locally due to council delays in setting a long-term vision, opposition councillors have said.

The Labour group on City of York Council has criticised the ruling Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition, after it announced a six-month delay in the Local Plan process.

The Local Plan is a long-term development document, that sets out what is acceptable where in the city, including preferred sites for housing and employment.

As reported on Friday, the council wants to review its plan, following the Ministry of Defence's announcement that it will close Queen Elizabeth Barracks and Towthorpe Lines at Strensall by 2021 and Imphal Barracks in Fulford by 2031. The sites could accommodate 1,695 homes in total, the council says.

But Labour say the delay carries high risks and say local people face being sidelined in crucial decisions.

Cllr David Levene, Labour spokesman for housing, said: "We warned the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition that their approach carried an unacceptable risk of failing to meet the Government's deadlines for an adopted Local Plan.

York Press:

"They ignored us, and have now confirmed this is exactly what will happen. This opens the door to huge financial penalties as well as a Government-imposed Plan that shuts local residents out of the process. Yet the coalition continues to shirk its responsibility to produce a robust Plan with adequate amounts of housing.

"This represents a colossal failure by the Coalition to act in the best interests of the city."

He said failing to define a green belt created a risk of "uncontrolled, speculative development" and said: "They and their actions are a threat to what makes York special."

Cllr Nigel Ayre, chairman of the Local Plan Working Group, told The Press on Friday that the MoD's shock announcement could have "significant implications" for the plan and said council officials would need to evaluate those to ensure the plan complied with national policy. He said residents supported the reduction in proposed green belt development, compared to the previous proposal under Labour.

An update on the process will go before councillors on December 5.