A Developer has called for a massive fun park at Monk's Cross on the outskirts of York.

Peter Smith, a director of Huntington Ltd based at Monk's Cross, wants Evening Press readers to suggest ideas for what he describes as "a leisure window" to the north of the emerging £90 million shopping Park and the new Asda.

He said today that the development, which would contain some retail element, could take place on 18 acres in two parcels of land owned by him and his partner, fellow surveyor Hugh Ball, and on 26 acres adjoining it to the north on which they have first option to buy.

The 18-acre parcel, separated by Pigeoncote Farm, is designated in the York development plan as "employment land"; the 26 acres is listed as being safeguarded for future development.

But Mr Smith believes that with 600,000 sq ft of retail development taking place or completed at Monk's Cross the time to make radical use of that land is now.He said: "We know that there is a huge dearth of family leisure facilities in York. You only have to see the enthusiastic response to Waterworld on the edge of Monk's Cross to know that people crave for fun.

"Let the planners take notice of what families want. While the future of the land is something to be considered later, let people tell us what they want now, this very moment. Indoor tennis courts? Bowling rink? Indoor bowling green? Ice rink? Let us know."

Mr Smith said that the experience of Disneyland in California was that when it became a success, factories, shops and offices flocked to Anaheim in Orange County to be near the vortex. "Success at Monks Cross is bound to breed further success," he said.

Mr Smith and Mr Ball once linked forces with Bass in acquiring land at Monk's Cross, including the Shopping Park site which was eventually sold, partly to Asda for its new store and partly to Richardson Developments which began developing the shopping park before agreeing to hand over the retail venture to a development trust.

The two men went on to develop the £12 million Sainsbury's at Monks Cross, built the sleek Arabesque House offices there and on part of a horseshoe of land acquired around the shopping park, now plan to build a £9 million retail centre on three acres near Sainsbury's.

Anyone with ideas for the 'fun park' should send them to Business Editor Ron Godfrey at The Evening Press, News Room, 76-86 Walmgate, York Y01 9YN. (Fax: 612853; e-mail: yorknewsdesk@ york.newsquest.co.uk).

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