Comments on: Airspeed (Reynard’s garage) update, 2014

By: Rob McNaught

Rob McNaught — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 11:17:02 +0000

I agree very much with all of the above, and am very sad that I have not looked more widely to see if anyone else was interested in the site before now. The lack of interest in ‘recent’ heritage is not confined to York, and unfortunately we can expect to see similar decisions made in relation to many more ‘derelict’ sites in years to come.

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 11:12:13 +0000

Thanks for your comments. From this and discussion on Twitter it's clear that there's a lot of interest in the future of this building, and that many people would like to know more about how the decision is to be made, and how the shortlist (all hotels) has been drawn up. The agenda for the meeting I linked to above is massive. On Twitter @GSwinburn highlighted the relevant part, it's on this link, with summary, background. Info on the Piccadilly site in particular starts at point 14.

By: Colin Durrans

Colin Durrans — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 09:59:13 +0000

Looking at the council papers today it appears that they’re now working on a short list of four… all hotels.

By: Ivor

Ivor — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 21:52:11 +0000

This is such a short sighted decision by the council. If they really want to protect and develop the city’s history then the 20th century is just as important as everything before it. OK, Stonebow was a big mistake but a building that housed an aviation pioneer would be an important and successful attraction to York citizens and visitors alike. Another hotel is not needed.

By: YorkStories

YorkStories — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 21:13:25 +0000

Regarding the criteria on which the decision is to be based, seems even councillors haven’t been able to get the details on this.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 06 Jan 2014 16:37:58 +0000

A great read, as ever. This is such a glaring opportunity missed – a decision based entirely on money rather than reflecting public opinion or civic identity. In other words, a complete sell-out.

The idea that a building with such an interesting past is ‘not part of York’s true heritage’ (whatever that means) is not only completely wrong, it is an insult to the great manufacturing and engineering this city once boasted.

If we bulldoze it, we lose that link forever – there is no way to get it back. And in its place we end up with a new-build chain hotel that is devoid of soul, meaningfulness, cultural value and helps put the independents and B&Bs out of business. Will that be ‘part of York’s true heritage’?