High Court backs visitor centre at Clifford’s Tower
PLANS BY English Heritage to establish a visitor’s centre at the site of an infamous antisemitic attack look set to go ahead, after the High Court rejected a challenge by opponents of the scheme.
City of York council approved the £2 million development plan at Clifford’s Tower last October, with a gift shop, interpretation centre and new stairs improving access to the site.
Clifford’s Tower is the last remaining part of York Castle, once a major centre of political control in northern England. It is where 150 Jews were murdered in 1190 as they attempted to flee an antisemitic mob.
Campaigners had applied for a judicial review of the proposals, arguing that the significance of the site had not been fully recognised and that planning guidelines had been misinterpreted. They also objected to the architectural design.
Striking down the challenge, Mr Justice Kerr noted: “The perceived public benefits were considered substantial, even though the proposals generated substantial oppo- sition.
“The supporters of the proposal included the statutory body with responsibility for preservation, Historic England, and its managing agent, English Heritage.
“The project enjoyed the support of the city council, in the person of its most senior officers with professional responsibility for heritage matters.”
He also ordered campaigners to pay £5,000 towards the council’s legal costs.
Ben Rich, chair of the York Liberal Jewish community, confirmed that the congregation had been “consulted properly by English Heritage, they did ask us our opinions on their plans before they submitted them.
“Whilst you will find a range of views within the community about the architectural merits of what they’re proposing, we do agree that having more high quality educational material about Clifford’s Tower is important, not just about what happened to the Jews, but the whole history [of the site] which is very badly covered at the moment. “Secondly, anything which helps to improves access to the site is also to be welcome.”