York Council is using a “planning loophole” from the 1960s to host camping on Monk Stray for July’s Tour De France just weeks after its original proposals for the site were rejected.

In March Labour run York Council was forced to scale back its plans for Monk Stray. Nearly 300 residents had opposed proposals to stage events serving alcohol on the Stray on 14 days in any year. The council’s cross-party Licensing Committee decided to grant a one day only licence for July’s Tour De France and said that there could be no camping allowed on the licensable area as part of this.

However, council officers have confirmed that a deal has now been agreed withthe Caravan Club to manage camping on the site for the Tour De France. Planning legislation from the 1960s allows the Caravan Club to organise the camping without a planning application. York Council has also submitted a planning application for a new gate to access Monk Stray (from Stockton Lane) after the authority was told that it could not use an access gate on a nearby private road.

Local residents have consistently raised concerns over plans to turn Monk Stray into a ‘Spectator Hub’ for July’s Grand Départ amid worries over access to the site, parking, traffic, noise, litter, surface water and anti-social behaviour.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Heworth Without, commented:

“It is concerning that the views of local residents seem to be being ignored. The Labour run council couldn’t persuade its own licensing committee to approve camping plans for Monk Stray – so it uses a planning loophole to put caravans on the Stray anyway. The council was then told by residents it could not use a gate on a private road to access the Stray – so it decides to construct a completely new gate into the Stray.

“It does appear that step-by-step the council is trying to dismantle the decisions taken by its own licensing committee in March. Labour seem determined to continue their original scheme in secret and against the wishes of residents rather than behave in an open and democratic fashion.”

City of York Council is using powers under the ‘First Schedule to the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960’ which allows organisations which hold a ‘certificate of exemption’ (in this case the Caravan Club) to operate camping without planning permission.

The council has submitted a planning application forthe installation of vehicle and pedestrian gates into Monk Stray from Stockton Lane. Details here (Reference: 14/01018/FUL): http://planningaccess.york.gov.uk/online-applications/