Connaught Court plans should be "put on hold".
Call for ‘super public inquiry’
From the archive, first published Saturday 17th Sep 2005.
PLANS to build 50 houses in south York should be put on hold until a public inspector has decided the fate of the city’s other major developments, according to a political group.
The Evening Press reported on Thursday how three huge developments in York have been “called in” for public inquiry by the Government.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott’s office wrote to the council explaining why the three schemes at Derwenthorpe, Germany Beck and Heslington East should be decided by an independent inspector.
It has not yet been decided whether there will be separate inquiries or one “super public inquiry” into all three schemes.
Now York’s Green Party has called on the Government to deal with all three developments together. It has also called for a further application – the Connaught Court development in Fulford – to be put on hold until the outcome of the inquiry is known.
Protesters against the Connaught Court scheme – and the far larger proposal by Persimmon Homes to build 700 homes at Germany Beck – said the two developments would cause traffic chaos and double the size of Fulford.
Denise Craghill, Fulford resident and Green Party vice-chairwoman, said: “It seems clear that the Government office supports the view of many local residents and the Green Party that it is important and proper to consider the cumulative effects of these developments together.
“There are huge concerns about traffic, local infrastructure and flooding, as well as the loss of green open space and biodiversity.
“In view of this, it also makes sense that the Connaught Court proposals for yet further development in the area should be put on hold until these issues have been properly examined by an independent inspector.”
News that the Germany Beck application has been sent to public inquiry was greeted with delight by members of the Fulford Battlefield Society, who are to reenact the alleged 1066 battle tomorrow.
Society leader Chas Jones said he was “very, very happy” at the news, and hoped all archaeological work on the site could be completed by the time the public inquiry was held.
“At the city council we didn’t get a chance to set forward our evidence,” he said. “This will give us that chance for the first time.”
Updated: 12:54 Saturday, September 17, 2005
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