SIX conservation groups have blasted York's Coppergate Riverside proposals - and thrown their weight behind the alternative scheme for public parkland.

The York Natural Environment Panel says it has decided there is "no contest" between Land Securities' £60 million scheme for shops near Clifford's Tower and York Tomorrow's plan for public open space.

The panel, made up of six voluntary groups including the Council for the Protection of Rural England, the York Natural Environment Trust and the River Foss Society, strongly criticised Land Securities landscaping proposals.

It said it would produce a "hard landscape, almost devoid of vegetation and completely alien to the Foss".

And it said the parkland proposals by the campaign group York Tomorrow would provide a fitting setting to the historic tower and protect the greenery and wildlife of the Foss.

"It would complement the Museum Gardens on the other side of the city centre and at the same time take some pressure off this heavily used park. It would provide purpose-designed opportunities for outdoor entertainment and activities."

The panel's chairman, Barry Potter, said: "York Tomorrow's application expressed the wishes of a very large number of individuals and organisations for a public open space on this site.

"There is no support for the Coppergate Riverside proposals but we would very much like to see a re-developed Piccadilly, complemented on the other side of the Foss by a green, landscaped park providing enjoyment for people and habitat for wildlife."

City of York Council's planning committee will consider both York Tomorrow's and Land Securities' schemes at a special meeting on Wednesday afternoon, with officers recommending refusal of the former but conditional approval of the latter, unless the Secretary of State wishes to call it in.

The environment panel is urging refusal of the Riverside scheme, and approval of York Tomorrow's proposals.