A YORK conservation watchdog has spoken of its "bitter disappointment" at the Government's decision not to call a public inquiry into the redevelopment of the Barbican Centre.

The Evening Press reported in later editions yesterday how the proposals, which include a revamp of the auditorium, a 135-bedroom hotel, 240 apartments and a new community swimming pool, could now go ahead.

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said the announcement was "great news for leisure, jobs and housing," which the vast majority of residents had been hoping for.

But Labour spokeswoman Tracey Simpson-Laing said it was disappointing for the majority of people who felt the development was unsuitable for the area.

A letter to the council from the Government office said the Secretary of State's general approach was not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it was necessary, as they were best placed to make decisions relating to their areas.

He would, in general, only call in an application if planning issues of more than local importance were involved.

All the matters raised had been carefully considered, and the Secretary of State had concluded that his intervention would not be justified.

"The applications do not in the Secretary of State's view raise issues of such wider significance which require a decision by him. The decision as to whether to grant planning permission will therefore remain with the Council."

Peter Brown, of York Civic Trust, said of the decision: "We are bitterly disappointed."

He said the trust, which had strong concerns about the scale and massing of the development on a relatively small site, felt there had been many serious planning and architectural reasons for calling the application in.

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, June 24, 2004