Only days after residents and political candidates from all parties staged a demo in favour of conserving the  playing fields off Windmill Lane, York Council officials have again recommended that the area be developed.

In April, the Council’s planning committee deferred a decision on an application to build 70 dwellings on the playing fields.

The application was heard at committee on 20th April 2017 who deferred it ” in order to provide clarification on the methodology used to establish that there was no shortfall in open space provision within the area, secure clarification on the suitability of the location of the alternative provision and secure evidence of how the existing pitches have been offered to local sports teams”.

Now a new report, due to be considered by the planning committee on 15th June, once again contains a recommendation for approval.

Critically, Sport England have not objected to the proposals but acknowledge that they are “finely balanced”

Both David Lloyd Leisure and the City of York Hockey Club have raised objections.

If approved the plan will be referred to the Secretary of State who would have the opportunity to call it in for public inquiry.

We continue to believe that applications like this are, at best, premature and should not be considered until the draft Local Plan has been subject to a public examination.

Ironically whoever is elected to represent the area in today’s Council by election poll will have little opportunity to influence the planning decision which is only 7 days away.