A ROW has erupted over plans to rip up landscaped lawns around Selby Civic Centre and replace them with Tarmacadam.

It was revealed today that the district council intends to dig up parts of the lawns to create 31 parking spaces and a new access road to the front of the centre.

The proposals immediately came under fire from Selby Civic Society.

Honorary secretary Philip Milsom said it would completely spoil the pleasant lawned aspect and general ambience of the Civic Centre.

He said: "We need all the green space we can get in the town."

Part of the landscaped lawn at the front of the council offices, as well as a smaller piece at the police station side, would be sacrificed.

It also emerged today that council chiefs were in negotiations with Tesco about selling off a further area of landscaped gardens only six metres from the council offices.

Mr Milsom said the civic society had been labouring for years to maintain and enhance the appearance of Selby.

He said: "Open spaces are an important part of the townscape. It is incomprehensible to us that the council should even consider disposing of part of the surrounds to the Civic Centre."

Council chiefs said the extra parking spaces were needed as part of a £1 million revamp.

The council's director of community services, Steve Martin, said they planned to build a new office block for the property services unit, currently housed in portable buildings.

This would be built at the rear of the Civic Centre and would swallow up about 60 of the council's 140 parking spaces.

The project also included a "one-stop shop" in the council offices, offering services for residents.

The new parking spaces would give visitors easier access to the "shop".

Mr Martin said: "I appreciate the concerns about the erosion of green space, but a lot of our customers use cars.

"I like to see greenery myself, but all the grass and shrub areas are being systematically destroyed by vandals, and police tell us the present layout is indefensible."

Updated: 16:24 Tuesday, January 21, 2003