PROTESTERS fighting to save York's Barbican Centre say council leisure chiefs are "giving it away" by accepting a one-off payment worth £750,000.

Members of Save Our Barbican (SOB) have expressed concern that this sum would grant the proposed operators, Absolute Leisure, the auditorium's lease for 250 years. And they say a condition on the lease only requires them to stage 50 performances a year at the venue for the next 20 years.

But Charlie Croft, City of York Council's director of lifelong learning and leisure, said it was a "very good deal" for residents, as it currently cost York taxpayers about £650,000 to run the centre. He said Absolute Leisure had committed to investing £2.5 million.

Ernie Dickinson, a spokesman for SOB, said: "This would not be a good deal for the people of York. It's a gift, considering the venue was built for £14 million.

"This is the great Barbican giveaway, and it is about time councillors and officers realised that they are but temporary custodians of the citizens' property. It is not theirs to dispose of in order to ease the council's financial embarrassment.

"We believe that the terms offered to Absolute Leisure amount to a misuse of public property."

Mr Croft said the lease required Absolute Leisure to retain the site as an auditorium for the next 250 years, and not to make any structural changes without the council's written consent. He confirmed that there was a 20-year clause which required the leaseholders to put on 50 performances a year for a minimum of 800 people.

"This is a great deal for the people of York," Mr Croft said. "The rates alone are currently £325,000 a year.

"The site is protected as an auditorium for 250 years."

Mr Croft said the Barbican would remain open until at least the end of July.

Updated: 10:40 Wednesday, April 14, 2004