CHRIS TITLEY meets a woman with a mission to keep York's buildings in tune with its history

FRENETIC building activity in York during the last few years alarmed Alison Sinclair. "It's the worst I remember, and I have lived in York for nearly 20 years," she said. "I suspect this is probably worse than in many other comparable cities in the country."

Talking to friends and associates, she discovered her concern was shared by many - all anxious about the piecemeal development of York, but unsure how to influence it.

So, in typically practical fashion, Alison did something to fix that. After all, this is the chairman both of York's conservation areas advisory panel and of Friends of Rowntree Park, as well as York Georgian Society's spokeswoman at the Coppergate II inquiry. When it comes to protecting this city's history, she is a doer, not a talker.

So, together with some like-minded citizens, Alison set up the York Open Planning Forum.

This unique platform will allow discussion on all aspects of York planning: the sort of developments proposed, their scale and environmental impact.

Discussion at the first meeting on December 16 will centre on the Without Walls project to develop a long-term vision for York's development.

That will be followed by a forum on the plans to renew the York Central site. At a date to be fixed, another major city development, that of Hungate, will be discussed. Because nothing like this has been tried before, Alison admits that she is unsure how it will work. But the forum has three clear objectives:

To encourage better understanding of planning matters as they affect the built and natural environment

To educate people about planning practice so they can take informed decisions on matters which affect them

To promote the exchange of information and good planning practice between City of York Council, parish councils and others.

Alison is convinced York residents are intensely proud of their city, and have strong opinions on how it should be protected and enhanced.

Now they have a chance to air them, free from the restrictions of council meetings and ward committees.

There is certainly support for the forum: the mailing list of those interested is already more than 100.

And the council, too, is in favour. Council leader Dave Merrett and Roy Templeman, head of environmental and development services, have been positive, said Alison.

Part of the genesis of the forum came out of the Coppergate II wrangle, which created much antagonism between the council and conservationists. "Coppergate was part of my whole sense that people felt they were not having their chance to make their voice heard properly," said Alison.

But she stresses the forum is not a pressure group. Neither is it intended to choke progress. She said the forum is a positive force which will allow more people to have their say in their city.

Alison, an architectural historian and consultant, points out she is a fan of some modern buildings. She cites Borders bookshop, City Screen and the solicitors' practice opposite York Magistrate Court as new buildings which enhance the old.

Her concern, like that expressed by the York Civic Trust in their recently published annual report, centres on the size, scale and architectural standard of big new developments. "York's unique heritage assets need support rather than being regarded as something that gets in the way. This should be a trigger for improvements and enhancements." She fears we are catering to modern lifestyle whims rather than for future generations.

The flats proposed for Skeldergate - now the subject of a planning appeal - were tiny. Considering the Hungate development proposes 720 homes, these too are hardly likely to be spacious.

"One of our concerns is that it is catering for a style of life which may be in fashion and in demand now, but will it be for the longer term? It certainly doesn't cater for families," said Alison.

The forum chimes with the Government's White Paper calling for more community involvement in planning decisions. Alison hopes it will help York residents perform their role as guardians of this peerless city.

The York Open Planning Forum on the Without Walls project takes place in the Priory Street Centre at 7.30pm on Monday December 16; the forum on York Central is at the Guildhall at 7.30pm next Monday. Everyone welcome. To become a member of the forum, contact Dr R Suttill, 39 Seventh Avenue, Heworth, York YO31 0TZ.

Updated: 12:17 Thursday, December 05, 2002