Plans to build a mini-golf course beside York Explore have sparked a backlash, including from city tour guides and some library users.
One critic compared the plans to playing squash against Hadrian’s Wall or playing croquet at Stonehenge.
As YorkMix has reported previously, York Mini Golf Ltd, run by friends Helen Birkett and David Finch, wants to set up a 12-hole course on the grass beside the library, also known as Mint Yard, between the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital and the Roman wall and Multangular Tower.
They want planning permission for seven years, but the plans have now generated 21 objections.
Guildhall ward councillor Janet Looker has asked that it be fully debated and decided by a planning committee in public, rather than by council officials.
When it unveiled its plan, York Mini Golf Ltd said: “It represents a low-key and low-impact use, which will bring people into a richly historic part of York, which is often ignored and unappreciated by visitors to the city.”
But objectors have cited concerns over the visual impact on the historic buildings; the loss of a free and peaceful green space in the city centre; the noise impact on people using the library reading rooms and archives; and the impact on guided tours of York.
Barrie Ferguson, chair of the Association of Voluntary Guides to the City of York, said twice daily tours had begun in Mint Yard for the past 70 years. He said: “I just cannot imagine commencing a tour with the background of a ‘theme park’ in an area of much history dating from the Roman period. What sort of an impression would that give, if this unfortunate proposal was allowed to be approved?”
Guildhall Planning Panel said: “Yet another freely accessible green quiet space in York lost to commercial enterprise. The proposed development is out of character with this important part of the historic city wall and the Multangular Tower.”
‘It should not be trivialised’
Here are excerpts from some other objections:
“It is an inappropriate use of the space. The Library Lawn is at the centre of a historically important area of the city, which includes, in the Multangular Tower, the only significant remains of Roman York. It should not be trivialised. The historically-themed mini-golf course will be of little or no educational value and – however carefully managed – will be little more than a children’s playground… No serious consideration seems to have been given to the impact on users of the Library, Archives, and Marriott Room. The mini-golf course will, obviously, generate considerable noise, not conducive to archival research, quiet study, or any other activity for which silence is necessary. I see no indication of how noise nuisance is to be prevented, or even mitigated.”
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“It would damage the place by commercialising it, by dictating the activity in the middle three quarters of the lawn and by disturbing the peace of one of the few public quiet places left in York… It seems horrible that this may become a place for York families to avoid because they can’t afford to spend – or don’t wish to spend – on harmless-in-its-place silliness that the profit-makers want to insert into York’s heritage. It would be sad if the lawn was no longer a space for people to enjoy in their own way.”
“The reference library on the first floor is a place of study and contemplation. The siting of a family amusement adjacent to this ‘seat of leaning’ is, in my opinion, a complete lack of understanding by the submitter of the need for silence to study. Perhaps the Garden of the Royal York Hotel could be utilised, as it was for the Ferris Wheel?
“In my view this proposal is culturally insensitive. I cannot see how a crazy golf course would be of appeal to anyone except 8-year-old children and parents wanting to keep them amused for an hour. The area in question is of great cultural importance and should be enhanced with some good information boards, not cheapened by a silly, tacky gimmick.”
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“This is an area of outstanding national importance. From Roman times to date people have lived worked and died on this ground, within these walls. York council has one of the best historical sites in the country that attracts millions of tourists every year. Why spoil it? Can I suggest as an alternative, croquet at Stonehenge or squash against Hadrian’s Wall because that’s the company you seem happy to join.”
“In this area we are able to set the scene for the history of York, pointing out wall building by each invasion – our ancestors. The Roman oven will become invisible. The view of St Leonard’s hospital cloisters will be extremely restricted. Noise and activity from crazy golf will be a distraction… It’s the only place within the city walls we have that covers so many visible records of the invasions of York over 2000 years. It is unique history, which other cities don’t have… A crazy golf course will denigrate this major historical site to the detriment of promoting our cultural heritage.”
The application
York Mini Golf says in its application that it will help draw more people into an area that is under-appreciated, thus raising awareness of the historic buildings.
It also says it will upgrade the path to be wheelchair accessible and provide a wheelchair-accessible attraction, and says the course will help the library financially, through rent and increased café visits.
And mini golf would contribute positively to people’s mental health, as a family-oriented outdoor activity. Admission would be free for some children and their carers, such as people working with local charity Snappy, and Max Card holders.
You can view the application on the City of York Council planning website. The application reference is 21/02758/FUL. If you wish to submit comments in support or objection, choose the ‘comments’ tab on the application.