YORK spent 20 years discussing it, ten years planning it, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money arguing about it. And we have nothing concrete to show for it.

In one sense, the rejection of Coppergate II is positive. York would be nothing without its historic core, and the planning inspector was emphatic that the Riverside development threatened that. Time taken to ensure York does not make another planning blunder is not time wasted.

However, the result still leaves us with the eyesore of Piccadilly, and the Castle adrift in a sea of cars.

New plans to renew the less sensitive Piccadilly area could be expedited quickly. As for the space around Clifford's Tower, we need a new approach. Back to the drawing board everyone. Ideas welcome, the more imaginative the better.

Updated: 10:47 Thursday, September 11, 2003