Big names join opposition to Monks Cross shopping complex plans (From York Press)

Big names join opposition to Monks Cross shopping complex plans

10:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Community stadium news By Mark Stead, Political Reporter

TWO of York’s most famous businesses have hit out at plans for a huge out-of-town retail complex - and warned it could affect their future in the city.

Oakgate (Monks Cross) Ltd’s proposals for new John Lewis and Marks & Spencer stores at Monks Cross, alongside a 6,000-seater community stadium for York City FC and York City Knights, are expected to be debated by City of York Council’s planning committee next month.

The firm says the scheme will inject at least £12 million a year into the local economy and create 1,000 new jobs, but city-centre businesses have claimed it would wreck their trade.

Formal objections have now been submitted to the council by the bosses of Bettys tea rooms – which marks 75 years of trading in York this year – and the city’s Barnitts store.

In a letter to planning officer Michael Jones, Bettys managing director Linda Brunton-Douglas said the firm wanted to continue to “invest in our York business for many years to come”, but could only do this if the city centre had a viable future.

“While the opportunity of the stadium will have value to the York community, this comes at a cost,” she wrote.

“At a time when the city centre has empty retail units and York already has extensive out-of-town shopping provision, we urge the council to weigh the long-term consequences of the Monks Cross proposals against the short-term benefits.

“While York, to a degree, has been protected from the economic challenges which have had a negative effect on many city centres, this cannot be guaranteed for the future.”

An objection letter from Barnitts managing director Paul Thompson said the city centre would be “severely undermined” by the Monks Cross scheme, which would equate to a “second town centre” with “massive advantages”.

“The viability of independent businesses within the city centre is already tight because of high overheads and its difficult and expensive parking and access regime, and these proposals are likely to prove the tipping point,” he said.

“Barnitts is not against any sensible redevelopment of the city centre which will actually strengthen the city. We feel this proposal will be detrimental to city centre businesses and would significantly damage trade in these difficult economic times.”

Oakgate has said its proposals would have “little long-term detrimental impact on the city centre”, and the Monks Cross plans have been backed by the likes of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and York Economic Partnership.