Hundreds sign petition calling for York’s new car park to be scrapped
A petition has been launched calling on the council to scrap plans for a new multi-storey car park in York.
Launched yesterday (Monday), the Say No to St George’s Field Multi Storey Car Park petition has already garnered more than 240 signatures.
The 372-space car park on St George’s Field would replace the Castle car park, due to be closed under the Castle Gateway development proposals.
Controversial plans for the multi-storey car park were given the go-ahead in January, but top councillors later decided to pause the procurement process until the impact of Covid on car parking demand had been understood.
Environmental campaigner Kate Ravilious has set up the petition. It has three aims:
- Say no to this unnecessary eyesore.
- Sign up today to help change the imminent City of York Council decision.
- Reject or defer this decision till after the Local Transport Plan is published.
The petition says:
The new car park will overshadow the nearby ancient Castle Walls, our wonderful riverside walk, add to traffic congestion and air pollution on York’s roads, and have a significant carbon cost.
Furthermore, it doesn’t provide a suitable replacement for the Blue Badge car parking due to be lost when Castle car park closes.
Data suggests that York’s existing car parks have spaces to spare and that there is no need to pour tonnes of concrete into St George’s Field – costing at least £14.2million from already overstretched council funds – for an extra 121 spaces (£117,355 per space).
This is what some people signing the petition are saying:
“If we have £14.2m to spend on transport, let’s put it into buses and bike paths, not car parks!” – Sam Cooper
“As a grandparent with grandchildren growing up in York, I want a better and cleaner world for their future. Encouraging traffic through the city will increase our high levels of air pollution” – Pat Wills