Request For Help

The following letter was submitted by a Brits Abroad reader.

The Castle Area Campaign is a group of concerned citizens in York, England
who are determined to stop the development of a cheap and nasty shopping
mall next to the internationally-renowned ancient monument of Clifford's
Tower. The City of York Council has shamefully given permission for a
London-based developer, Land Securities, to build "Coppergate II" - a
shopping centre on both sides if the River Foss in York.  Crucially, this
includes building right up to the Tower. 

The Castle Area Campaign is not against shops per se and welcome the other
half of the development on the other side of the River Foss, we just
cannot accept our heritage being subsumed by a shopping centre when many
shops lay empty and local traders are already under pressure. The quality
of the proposed development has been criticised as poor by nearly all
commentators and its scale and massing next to the historic monument is
totally inappropriate.  The materials proposed and the short lifetime of
the shopping mall also makes the proposal an insane odyssey merely
designed to make a fast buck.

Two demonstrations against the proposed development have taken place,
including a march from the statue of William Etty in Exhibition Square to
Clifford's Tower.  Some citizens dressed in medieval costume bringing a
carnival atmosphere to the proceedings.  The march was peaceful but noisy,
raising shouts of "Hear us shout, hear us wail - our city's not for sale!"
and "We are the force, we have the power. We will save Clifford's Tower!"
250 demonstrators of all political persuasions and none, gathered at
York's Castle Museum - also threatened to be obscured by the development. 
Speeches were received from the Castle Area Campaign Group, University
archaeologist Jane Granville, and a message of support from the Archbishop
of York, Dr David Hope.

Several Jewish Groups have raised opposition to the proposal which would
mean building on the site of the horrific massacre of York's Jewish
population in 1190.  This was the site of the first genocide against Jews
in Europe in 1190 (See http://www.igc.apc.org/ddickerson/cliffords-tower.html ).

5,500 people signed a petition successfully asking for the Secretary of
State, John Prescott, to call a Public Inquiry into this desecration.  The
Public Inquiry has now been postponed until 15th January 2002. A new
petition has therefore been started to call on the City of York Council to
cancel the plans for a shopping mall and turn the are into a green and
open space.

The Castle Area Campaign calls upon citizens of the world who have an
interest in heritage to write to the Inspector to complain.  Thousands of
letters of protest would help the cause tremendously.

Letters of opposition may be sent to:-
Marcia Dean (Case Officer)
Room 3/17
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol 
BS1 6PN
United Kingdom

The Castle Area Campaign Group greatly welcomes the support of Brits
Abroad and its link to our website  www.oocities.org/cliffordstower We
urge all Brits, home and abroad, to speak out against this wholly
inappropriate proposal for such as sensitive area in an ancient city.

ps:  I know its cheeky, but if you're able to arrange donations, they are
very welcome:- "Castle Area Campaign" c/o Stuart Wilson, 6 Vesper Drive,
York YO24 3HT, United Kingdom. or if people prefer, to a more-established
civic group:- The Civic Trust, Fairfax House, Castlegate, York YO1 9RN,
United Kingdom

"Our city is not for sale!"

Thank-you for listening. 
Dave. (Castle Area Campaign)

For more information click here.

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