12th May 2008

Greens say: Planning System must reflect local people's views

As another local landmark is scheduled for demolition, York Greens are calling for the views of local people to be given greater weight.

The Planning Inspectorate last week overruled the council's decision to refuse permission for demolition of the old St Barnabas School building in Bright Street, Leeman Road, York. The Victorian school building will now be demolished to make way for flats.

Andy Chase, parliamentary candidate for York Central, was one of the original objectors. He commented, "The old school was an attractive building that could have been sensitively re-used. Instead, we are promised yet more blocks of identikit flats on this site. It's time the views of local people were given far more weight, instead of planning decisions being made by those sitting in faraway offices in London or Bristol. On this occasion, our local councillors on the planning committee did speak up on behalf of local people, and deserve credit for doing so. I wonder when the Inspector will be holding a public meeting in to justify his decision to local residents"

"There is more, however, that the council can do to protect the city's heritage for the future - by implementing its existing policy on local listing and making sure that strong protection for the city's historic buildings is built into the new local development framework. It's vital that local councillors now step up to the challenge and ensure that the city we pass on to future generations is as special as the one we have today. York's Green councillors have been in the forefront of pressing for changes in the proposed framework that will reflect this."