Over 36 well-known figures from the arts, media, politics and sport have entered the fray in the battle against the Coppergate shopping mall proposed next to the scheduled ancient monument of Clifford’s Tower in York. Household names such as Freddie Truman, Janet Street-Porter, A.S. Byatt, Tony Benn and Lord Healey have added their names to the Castle Area Campaign’s petition against Coppergate II.

York Council’s controversial decision to go ahead with the scheme despite massive opposition lead to a six week long Public Inquiry, the result of which is still awaited.

Each new signatory to the petition has some connection with York or Yorkshire and a personal, professional or academic interest in the city’s past or future. They call on the Council and Secretary of State to think again about the decision to place a shopping mall in such a sensitive site. Many added their own particular comments:-

John Arden, playwright, said, “The ancient structure of the city of York must not be smothered by the ephemeral mud pies of oversized and over-hyped commercial development that will in any event be obsolete and a charmless ruin in less than a century (when no-one, least of all its bankrupt owners, will feel inclined to pay for its cleaning-up”.

Famous Yorkshire and England cricketer, Freddie Truman, said, “I have always fought for the heritage and history of my great country. I will help all I can to stop the destruction of such a beautiful city”.

Maureen Lipman, actress, wrote that she is “anti more shopping centres anywhere, particularly on historic sites.”

Alan Bennett, playwright, claimed, “The last thing required in the centre of York is more shopping, it is already impossibly busy and punishing to visit. This scheme is also totally out of keeping with its surroundings and is a whim to the brutal and destructive schemes of the 1970s and 80s”.

Bennett’s own words echo those of a character in his play ‘Intensive Care’. The last words spoken to the crying patient by his brother are, "We went over to York on Thursday. They haven't spoiled it yet."

The Castle Area Campaign Group has welcomed the news that so many famous people were justifiably upset about the shopping mall proposals near Clifford’s Tower. Gordon Campbell-Thomas, a spokesperson for the group, said, “It seems that not only is the mass of citizens of York opposed to this tawdry shopping mall scheme, but now the great and the good have added their voices to the drive to stop Coppergate II”.