RESIDENTS have blasted a proposal to run the main access road into York Central through a public garden.

Scores of people attended a public exhibition yesterday at St Paul’s Church in Holgate about the three possible routes for the access road into the teardrop-shaped development site, where up to 1,500 new homes and 100,000 square metres of commercial space are planned.

They were overwhelmingly opposed to the southern access option from Holgate Road, which would cross the Holgate Community Garden.

Sally McLean, of the Friends of Holgate Community Garden, said it was the only public open space in the area where local people could meet.

She said she was concerned about the environmental, social and health impact of the road, and said the York Central Partnership should pick one of the two other possible access routes, both from Water End - preferably the one that skirted the Leeman Road Millennium Green rather than going straight through the middle of it.

George Gray, of Wilton Rise, said of the Holgate access road: “It’s sheer lunacy.”

He raised concerns about pollution from the access road and also about flooding at its junction with Holgate Road, where there had been floods in the past.

Wilma Van Gelder of York Bridge Club, said members would lose vital parking outside the club if the route was chosen for the access road, with a massive impact on the club where hundreds play each week.

A spokesman for the York Central Partnership said the southern access option was one of three access options being consulted on by the partnership.

“All three routes being consulted on are viable and there is not a single preferred option,” he said.

“The purpose of the consultation is to outline the possible impacts of all three options to help York residents better understand the decision-making process and the timeline for development, and to be able to have their say.

“We are particularly interested in finding out what they feel the impact will be on the community of each option.

“The views and opinions shared as part of this consultation will form part of the decision-making process to identify a preferred option, and we would encourage all residents to take part.”

Two more exhibitions are planned by the partnership, at the Marriot Room at York Explore Library, in Library Square, Museum Street, between noon and 4pm on Saturday and in the Duchess of Hamilton Suite at the National Railway Museum in Leeman Road, between noon and 4pm on Saturday, September 9.