CAMPAIGNERS have blasted plans to glaze over a roof terrace at York's Barbican Centre, claiming it will mean the creation of a further major drinking area.

The Save Our Barbican (SOB) campaign says the proposals by centre operator Absolute Leisure are of great concern to local residents, who are already worried about noise and disturbance from drinkers emerging from bars at the centre late at night.

Chairman Ernie Dickinson says in a letter to City of York Council that an additional concern about the roof-top bar is light pollution which, he claims, will be exacerbated through the magnifying effect of a glass roof.

The Press revealed earlier this month how Absolute Leisure, which won planning permission in 2004 to refurbish the centre auditorium and build new bars and restaurants at the front, had submitted a fresh application to the authority.

Its proposals included glazing over a proposed roof terrace at first floor level on the east side to form a covered bar, along with a new design for glazed curtain walling at the front and an angular canopy.

Mr Dickinson claimed the council had seen fit previously to "grant every conceivable license available under the 2003 act without any protective conditions," and the new proposals would undoubtedly affect the local environment. He called on the council to carry out a long overdue environmental impact assessment on the proposals.

Another SOB member, local resident Maria Dodd, has also written to the council to ask whether the enclosed area would be licensed for the sale of alcohol and, if so, until what time and to how many people.

She also asked for details of how many people would be allowed in the Barbican at any one time, and in individual areas of the centre.

Licensing manager John Lacy wrote back saying the proposed roof garden would be licensed for the sale of alcohol, with sales permitted from 9am until 10pm.

"I am unable to provide you with occupancy levels as none have yet been calculated," he said.

"The fire authority at this stage has not stipulated any occupancy figures until the building work has been completed and a proper assessment can be undertaken."

Mr Dickinson said this showed the council, as licensing authority, had not the faintest idea what maximum occupancy levels would be allowed. "We believe that this situation is extraordinary and disgraceful."

No one at Absolute Leisure was available for comment at time of going to press.