FIVE years after giving Coppergate II the thumbs up, and two years after the scheme was described as "grossly inappropriate" by a planning inspector, English Heritage has finally admitted to getting it wrong.

In November 2000, the conservation body assessed the scheme to build ugly shops and offices close to Clifford's Tower. To the astonishment of many, it declared "that the planning application as amended satisfies our conservation interests and has much to commend it".

As English Heritage's director for Yorkshire Dr David Fraser summarised: "We concluded that the proposed plans were of very good quality and would be a positive enhancement of the other civic buildings around Clifford's Tower."

But a Government inspector disagreed, throwing out the development because it "would unacceptably impinge on the settings of the listed buildings, Clifford's Tower and the female prison, while also severely detracting from the character of the Central Historic Core Conservation Area".

Last month York Civic Trust's guest speaker at its annual general meeting was Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage.

He was asked about the organisation's backing for Coppergate II. Quickly pointing out that he wasn't in charge at the time, he admitted that "English Heritage had somehow backed itself into a corner on the issue of Coppergate and this should not have been allowed to happen".

Not only that, but "the really good news is that it wasn't built".

Stuart Wilson, spokesman for the Castle Area Campaign and a member of York Civic Trust, was delighted. He told the Diary: "Simon Thurley's remarks are very positive and come at an opportune time. There is a new public consultation about Castle Piccadilly in full swing and we do urge concerned citizens of York to have their say."

Common sense demands that the area around the tower is given over to open recreation space. Stuart's campaign suggests it could become a "Carr park" - parkland named in honour of John Carr, the architect of Fairfax House and York Crown Court.

To have your say, write to Nicola Berry, Development team, City of York Council, 9 St Leonard's Place, York YO1 7ET, by October 14.

IT'S all happening at The Three Tuns, on Coppergate, York. A poster advertises its "Curry Night: curry and pint of Fosters, glass of house wine or J2o, £5.49. Wed 6-10pm".

In the next window is another advert: "Chef required, apply within."

Looks like it's bring your own madras.

BERNARD Lyne, of Haxby, read Fiona Caine's agony column last Saturday with interest.

He was particularly struck by the letter from "the young lady who was nervous of marrying her young man because her given name would match up badly with his family name. 'Anne Ville' maybe, or 'Rose Gardner', actually quite nice that one.

"When we lived in Norfolk in the Sixties there was in the next village a Johnny Balls whose wife was Ophelia! That marriage took real guts."

So what's Bernard's advice? "Marry the lad I say and hang the consequences."

PERHAPS it was the impending redundancies, but there was some confusion over at Radio York last week. After one bulletin the newsreader not only got the time wrong, but announced that listeners were tuned to... BBC Radio Newcastle.

Updated: 09:10 Thursday, October 06, 2005