THE prospective developers of York's Barbican Centre say they are taking the latest delay in their stride.

The Evening Press has reported how the Government was giving itself more time to decide whether to call a public inquiry into the controversial redevelopment scheme, which includes apartments, a hotel and a new community pool.

It has issued a holding direction, allowing it to consider in depth about 90 objections received from residents and conservation organizations, along with the opposition Labour group on City of York Council. Concerns have focused particularly on the visual impact on the nearby historic city walls.

Now, Martin Foster, director of FPD Savills, York & property consultant to Barbican Venture (York) Ltd, has responded to the latest development by saying: "If the Secretary of State requires a longer period to consider the merits of the scheme, that's fine with us, and we will appreciate a professional consultative process and examination, however long it takes.

"Since we started down this road some years ago with high hopes for the future of the Barbican Centre, the majority of York leisure users and visitors, we have learned above all that patience is a great virtue and we have become accustomed to taking delays in our stride.

"With our scheme selected from over a dozen originally submitted, we consulted as many groups as possible to fine-tune the proposal to meet the requirements of the majority."

He said the developers had been gratified when the proposals became the preferred option, was approved by the council and went on to be endorsed in an independent survey of residents which showed they were two to one in favour of the scheme.

He said: "If the scheme is allowed to proceed, we believe it will even please some of the earlier detractors."

Updated: 08:23 Friday, June 04, 2004