WE strongly object to the proposed Coppergate II development on the following grounds:

1. A further 250,000 square feet of retail space, in addition to the other floorspace recently added in and around York, is unsustainable and would significantly and further dilute viability.

2. It would further elongate the linear shape of the city stretching from High Petergate to well beyond Clifford's Tower - again unsustainable.

3. Coppergate II would possess good car parking, easy access, good sized units, tenant incentives and Park & Ride and bus and coach drop-off points, whilst the rest of the city would be left to flounder without any of these advantages. In fact it would more than flounder because it will suffer more and more planned accessibility restrictions.

4. The result would be to damage the historic core of York's ability to sustain its quality occupancy, presentation and ability to attract tourism and inward investment. If no one is occupying historic buildings then the heritage of the city would not be maintained.

5. Coppergate would be served by two car parks and a cause a net increase in onsite car parking. This conflicts with York's general strategy and policy on car parking.

6. This site would be much better used exclusively as an open space around Clifford's Tower and for much needed residential and office accommodation in Piccadilly - the city is continually and desperately short of all of these.

7. It is unlikely this development would improve the shopping portfolio in York but it would shift retail business away from the historic core into Coppergate II. Three multiples, including the major department store, have already indicated they would intend to move.

Judith Thorpe (Banks Music Ltd),

Ian Thompson (Barnitts Home & Garden), Nicholas Brown (Browns Department Store), Tim Foster (Fosters Jewellers), S Bage (French Connection), Adam Sinclair (Mulberry Hall), Victoria Bage (Sarah Coggles)