8:57am Monday 22nd March 2010
TWO councillors have hit out at a decision to allow historic vaults below a shop in the heart of York to be filled in with foamed concrete.
City of York Council’s city centre area planning committee has given permission for the cellar space beneath the Crabtree & Evelyn store on the corner of Stonegate to be packed with the material because of the damage being caused by heavy vehicles parking above.
But Guildhall councillor Brian Watson and Coun Sonja Crisp, who represents Holgate – both of whom sit on the committee – refused to back the plans, claiming it was a blow to York’s heritage.
“The decision was partly based on costs, but it could end up costing the heritage of the city dear sometime in the future if it cannot be reversed,” said Coun Watson.
“Other properties in Stonegate are already suffering similar damage and it won’t be long before we have more and more premises in-filling in this manner. Is this how we look after our heritage?”
Con Crisp said she was concerned she had been given no examples of such methods being used on buildings of the shop’s age or how it could be removed if necessary.
“It was, in my opinion, a shamefully-rushed and uninformed decision,” she said.
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