Oldest building saved from car park plans

Plans to demolish one of the oldest buildings in Wakefield have been refused following "widespread opposition".

More than 1,000 people objected to a proposal to bulldoze the Old Vicarage in the city centre and build a car park on the site.

The building on Zetland Street dates back to the 14th Century, is used as the headquarters of the local Conservative Party Association and is held in trust on behalf of it.

Wakefield Council said there was "insufficient information" to allow a proper assessment to be carried out given the age of the property.

The Old Vicarage is on the council's list of buildings of local historic interest but does not have a national listing with English Heritage.

It is also rumoured to have links to a network of tunnels hidden beneath the city centre.

A report by the council's conservation officer said: "The immediate area surrounding the building has seen much change since the early 20th Century and the Old Vicarage is an important physical remnant of the medieval origins of the area."

The officer added that public representations highlighted the building's community significance.

Wayne Miller, owner of Division 24 skateboarding shop, has run his business at The Old Vicarage since 2001.

He said traders were overwhelmed by the public reaction to the plans last year.

In response to the decision, he said: "I'm not surprised it has been turned down but I'm over the moon.

"It's been a very stressful time worrying about having to move to new premises."

The trustees of Wakefield and Rothwell Conservative Association announced they would scrap the scheme weeks after the application was submitted to the council in response to the widespread opposition.

Naeem Formuli, chair of the the association, said at the time: "We adamantly oppose the demolition of this property and firmly declare that we have no plans to sell it in the future."

Mr Formuli said the application had been "instigated by previous trustees".

Wakefield Civic Society also objected to the proposal, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Society president Kevin Trickett said: "We were astounded to see such an application being submitted given the historical significance of the building.

"That its demolition is being proposed to create a car park shows a complete disregard for the value of this heritage asset to the city."

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