Although the campaign has had some success in preventing, to date, the expansion of the Monk's Cross Shopping Park, the larger and more adverse application Oakgate / Community Stadium application (11/02581/OUTM) has unfortunately been approved by the City of York Council. Therefore the local debate is now over.
The decision was taken despite all the economic, environmental, conservation, sustainability and planning evidence and will have significant implications for the future application of planning policies at a national level. Evidence also indicates a very significant negative impact on the future on one of the UK's best known and most visited historic cities, which also means the decision has significance far beyond the boundaries of York.
If enough support seeking an objective examination of the decision were to be addressed to the National Planning Casework Unit it well may be called in for a Public Inquiry.
Many individuals, businesses and organisations are writing to Joanne Davy at the National Planning Casework Unit (5 St. Philip's Place, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2PW. Email: npcu@communities.gsi.gov.uk)
In these letters objectors are outlining the core reasons that this application ought to be reviewed by the NPCU and 'called-in' for an objective examination at a Public Inquiry.
See the panel on the right for the reasons why the Planning Inspectorate should call these plans in.
If you would also like to write you should emphasise in your own words that the application conflicts with national policies including the Government's commitment in line with The Portas Review to put town centres first and specifically ask that this application ought to be reviewed by the NPCU and 'called-in' for an objective examination at a Public Inquiry.
Many people are copying in this letter to Right Hon. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU Email: eric.pickles@communities.gsi.gov.uk) as ultimately it is his decision.
