YORK’S proposed cultural quarter must be viewed as a long-term project, according to the man who helped draw up the plans.

Coun Dave Taylor also said City of York Council must take the lead and drive the scheme forward, to help York beat the recession.

As reported in The Press yesterday, council leader Andrew Waller has warned that a lack of money may hinder the £74 million plans to revitalise the area between York Minster and the National Railway Museum (NRM) and the various attractions there.

Coun Taylor chaired the council’s cultural quarter scrutiny committee, whose final report will be considered by the ruling executive on Tuesday.

He said: “We have to realise that this is a long-term project and the speed at which it will move is dependent on partners like the NRM, Theatre Royal, Minster, Museums Trust etc and how they fare in getting funding.

“Investing in the future of York makes good sense, and if we can achieve that in a recession then it protects and creates jobs as well as improving our city for the future for visitors and residents alike.

“The committee was unanimous in agreeing that the council needs to take a lead on this, build a firm business case, and ensure that the city speaks with one voice when further investment is needed.”

Coun Taylor said the committee had found strong support for the idea of a cultural quarter, despite some criticism of the name.

The committee’s report will be considered by the executive on Tuesday, before being referred to a meeting of the whole council.

Coun Waller said the executive was yet to decide what stance it would adopt towards the committee’s findings. He has praised the idea of a cultural quarter and pledged to back local organisations in their quests for funding, but warned that the timetable may have to be pushed back.

Originally, it was hoped that £74 million of public and private money could be spent by 2015.