A POLITICAL row is brewing over a controversial plan to build a new homeless centre in Clifton after Labour councillors were accused of "mischief making of the worst kind".

Coun Quentin Macdonald tore into ward councillors, after they revealed the council was considering an application from Arclight to house its new homeless centre at the former Shipton Street school site.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Press, Arclight, currently based at Leeman Road, has secured Government funding for a new building.

No decision has yet been made on the future of Shipton Street School, but the Evening Press reported Labour councillors' concerns about the suitability of the site, and fears that other sites had not been considered.

Clifton Residents' Association also voiced its concerns at the scheme and will discuss its response to the project on Monday.

Today, Coun Macdonald said Labour's actions by indicating Arclight's interest had brought "only heat to the debate", prior to a proper consultation and communication with residents on August 16.

But Ken King, Clifton ward councillor, said members had acted because they feared residents would be presented with a fait accompli. He demanded a feasibility study be conducted.

Coun Macdonald said: "The Clifton Ward Labour councillors knew that Arclight was studying this

building to see if it could be used for their needs; indeed they had met with Arclight and been briefed about the potential of the site.

"They had only to pick up the phone to either a Liberal Democrat executive member or to Arclight to inquire about the proposals for consultation. They did neither, but chose instead to make unfounded accusations about a lack of consultation and decisions made behind closed doors. This is political mischief making of the worst kind, which only brings heat to the debate and does not shed any light on the Arclight proposals for residents to consider."

Coun King said: "The Liberal Democrats have been discussing Shipton Street and Arclight for approximately 12 months - unbeknown to the Clifton councillors.

"They had a strategy of conning the residents in as much as they were not prepared to put it to them at all - it was a fait accompli."

The future of the site will not be decided until September 19 at a City of York Council meeting.

Jeremy Jones, head of Arclight, said: "Shipton Street was identified as an option in February this year and has been the subject of a lengthy feasibility process since that time.

"Now the designs and plans have been completed, the next stage is consultation with the local community and the planning process. This has been timed to take place in early August and an open day is planned for August 16.

Updated: 08:45 Friday, July 15, 2005