LETTER: Wilde hotel scheme should be rejected

The item included a quote by the developers that they are “working to finesse the design following feedback at our recent consultation”.

It is certainly to be hoped that they are doing this since the only change detectable so far is an increase in room numbers from to 146 to 152.

The only way they can accommodate so many rooms on this constricted site is to pile them up, one on top of another to a height which competes with Micklegate Bar, the historic principal gateway to this city.

Where will the cars belonging to all those guests be parked? Parking provision in the area is already inadequate, and it is no good saying guests will come by train because they won’t.

The scheme shows a two-level basement, though without indicating the use. Presumably the applicants are unaware their plot occupies a highly significant archaeological site on top of the 11th-century Holy Trinity Priory and the standing remains of a Roman building.

Permission for a basement car park could be refused as two layers of important archaeology would be destroyed in the process of excavation.

But perhaps the developers expect the spurious association of Oscar Wilde with their hotel will overcome objections.

This scheme exhibits total ignorance of the historic and architectural character of the conservation area. It is to be hoped that planning permission will be refused.

Alison Sinclair,

Bishophill Junior, York

Hotel might take up vital parking spaces

RE the new hotel that could be built in Micklegate.Once again with new apartments with up to 152 rooms (122 rooms and 30 apartments) plus a restaurant and not a mention of any car parking provisions, I suspect their intentions are to annex part of the Nunnery Lane car park for the hotel, apartments and restaurant visitors.

We have hotels aplenty. Parking places for visitors and shoppers is what we are short of.

D M Deamer,

Penleys Grove Street,

Monkgate,York