‘Help safeguard a much loved monument’ – crowdfunding campaign launched to fight Clifford’s Tower plan

‘Your contribution could help safeguard a much loved monument as it stands and provide a more optimistic plan for the future.’

The words of a crowdfunding campaign, launched on Tuesday (December 20) to support the fight against the new visitor centre at Clifford’s Tower.

It follows last week’s dramatic intervention by independent councillor Johnny Hayes, when he told the full City of York Council meeting that he was launching a legal challenge to the development.

The council’s decision to grant English Heritage planning permission for the visitor centre could now be taken to the High Court for a judicial review.

Costly business

Cllr Hayes has already put up half his teacher’s pension to pay for the early legal costs. Now he and his wife Frankie have launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover further fees.

They hope to raise £7,800 within 30 days.

The costs are broken down as follows:

Stage 1 – £7,800 to fund the “Permission Stage” where a judge considers the papers and decides whether it should go forward. The council could quash the original planning permission at this stage. If not it goes to

Stage 2 – £7,800 to prepare papers for the High Court hearings. Again the council could quash the decision. If not it’s time for

Stage 3 – £35,000 for the full High Court hearing.

‘Offensively commercial’

English Heritage have won permission to build a concrete and glass building incorporating a souvenir shop, coffee bar and viewing area. This will be embedded into the base of the mound on which the castle sits.

The crowdfunding campaign states:

Early backers echoed this sentiment.