ON March 6, a City of York Council sub-committee will meet to re-examine the decision to sell part of Clifford’s Tower mound that English Heritage need to build their controversial shop, cafe and visitor centre.
The council executive on January 26 decided to sell the part of the mound where the building will be sited for just £25,000 (subject to the outcome of the Clifford’s Tower judicial review in May).
Four local councillors have asked for this meeting.
I will argue that York residents should have the right to be consulted on the sale of this land.
Better alternative sites for this visitor centre are emerging with the Castle Gateway plan.
Clifford’s Tower is too precious a part of our city heritage to be sold without a thorough city-wide public consultation.
In December, a petition with 3,780 signatures protesting about this visitor centre was presented to the council.
In September 2011, the decision to sell Union Terrace Car Park was postponed following another large petition protesting about that sale. York residents objected and the sale did not go ahead.
Please contact your councillors to object.
I feel strongly that York residents should have the right to a public consultation on this important sale.
Cllr Johnny Hayes, Bishopthorpe Road, York
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