English Heritage’s key decision on parking plan

COUNCIL chiefs, traders and campaigners are holding their breath for a crucial English Heritage decision which could make or break the cathedral land car parking project.

The national conservation group is expected to ask for more information about the controversial plan before making its vital decision.

If it gives the thumbs down to the plan to provide 59 extra spaces on part of the deanery garden at the bottom of Cherry Hill park it could sound the death knell for the scheme.

A decision is expected at the end of next week after English Heritage officials paid a visit to the site behind Ely's Broad Street car park.

An English Heritage spokesman said: "English Heritage has not been formally consulted by East Cambridgeshire District Council on the proposed extension of the Broad Street car park, but an informal visit to the site has been made.

"We are presently considering the matter in terms of the likely impact of the proposal on the historic environment of the city and what additional information might be required to fully assess this before forming any view on the case."

East Cambridgeshire District Councillors decided to call in English Heritage before paying for a public consultation on the proposals.

The plan, revealed exclusively by the Ely Standard after a secret behind-closed-doors discussion at the council, has caused uproar in the city amid fears that the project could be the tip of the iceberg in eroding the area's green space.

A poll launched by the Ely Standard has registered 92 per cent of votes against the project. A map of the exact location of the land is available on our website at: www. ely-standard.co.uk

But traders are supporting the plan for the city centre spaces which would be financed by the closure of 70 spaces at Ely's Cresswells Lane car park.