GOING, going, gone - Green Party activists claim York's public assets will go up for auction if a Labour or Liberal Democrat controlled city council is voted in.

Haxby and Wigginton Ward candidate Alan Robertshaw put assets including York's schools, museums and the Fulford Cross nature reserve under the hammer at a specially organised mock auction.

The party claims several of York's assets have already been sold off and opposes any extension of the private finance initiative (PFI) in York.

Private cash will be used to build new buildings at three school sites in York.

The Greens have campaigned against the Coppergate development and have promised to oppose the sale of land at Clifford's Tower if it wins council seats.

Green spokesman and Fishergate candidate Andy D'Agorne said: "Experience of some PFI contracts in other parts of the country has been quoted by the Audit Commission as offering the taxpayer a poor deal with cost overruns and poorer quality services."

But a Labour group spokesman branded the Green auction "gesture politics."

He backed PFI, saying the council couldn't have afforded the new schools without it.

The spokesman added: "More generally, the sale of surplus council property helps to fund a large number of schemes that are important to York residents, such as the modernisation of residential homes for older people, playground improvements for the young, and the future renovation of Yearsley Pool. The Green Party seems happy to put all these essential projects in jeopardy."

Liberal Democrat Leader Steve Galloway said his party had opposed PFI at national level, but locally it was the only option.

Coun Galloway said the Green Party's favoured plan for Coppergate, the proposal to build a park there, would cost the council £1m a year in lost revenue.

And he questioned where the Greens would find the money needed if certain sales did not go through.

"As far as I can see, the Greens are saying it would all come from council taxpayers' pockets."

Tory leader John Galvin said: "The Liberal Democrats would have to sell off some of the council's assets to fund all the promises they have made."

Updated: 09:34 Thursday, April 24, 2003