It's scissors out for the manager of York's oldest menswear shop, who fears the prospect of two more takeaway food outlets in his road.

Tony Morrissey, of Anderson's, the shop established in the city in 1765, is protesting against a proposal which he believes will "attract the wrong sort of people to Blake Street."

It is part of a £5 million scheme by Oakgate Developments to redesign the Stonegate Walk shopping arcade in York which is now before the city's planners.

The scheme entails building 17 exclusive apartments on upper floors and replacing the 23 small shopping units with just four larger stores.

But it also involves seeking planning consent to turn the former Britannic Assurance site in Blake Street into standard retail or restaurant use with similar permission being sought for the site of what is now Peterson's newsagents at the Blake Street entrance to the arcade.

Mr Morrissey, whose firm once tailored clothes for the archbishops of York, a host of peers and even supplied the Queen of Sweden with tweed, said: "Already there is a McDonalds nearby and Bullivant's tea shop. We don't want to be encased in fast food outlets. One more is too many. Two is ridiculous. It will attract the wrong sort of people.

"We've been told that we have to object by February 25, which doesn't give us much time. We have had to notify our own architect to keep an eye on what they plan to do in the arcade which surrounds us on three sides."

But Oakgate Developments denied there would be fast food outlets there. Alison Stewart, Oakgate's property development manager said: "That is the last thing we want below our apartments and in any case it would have to be the subject of a separate planning application.

"We are hoping to attract quality restaurants which will add to the quality and vibrancy of Blake Street.

"There has already been positive interest from high quality, nationally-known restaurant names as well as a very well-known local restaurateur with a reputation for high quality service. We wouldn't want occupiers of our 17 apartments to live above anything other than good quality."

She added: "Mr Morrissey has absolutely nothing to fear. If anything, we will improve the frontage of Blake Street."

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