COUNCIL chiefs in York are looking at buying Bootham Crescent, it emerged today.

City of York Council is considering whether it can acquire the ground through a compulsory purchase order.

Coun Martin Brumby, chairman of the council's planning committee, told the Evening Press he is to ask the council's legal officers where they stand on the matter.

But the authority has already carried out an assessment and has not ruled out using compulsory purchase as a means of ensuring the survival of York City, now 16 days away from the possibility of being wound up.

Roy Templeman, the council's head of environment and development services, said applying an order would be "difficult", but had not been eliminated as an option.

Douglas Craig, chairman of Bootham Crescent Holdings, which owns the ground, said: "They can please themselves if they think they can do that and pay the appropriate compensation.

"I wouldn't have anything to say on the matter until they decide what they want to do. We will have to wait and see."

Compulsory purchase orders are used when a public authority wishes to acquire private land for the benefit of the community.

The council serves notice on all affected landowners and occupiers, who can then object - leading to a public inquiry considering the merits of the scheme.

It is the Government which finally grants the order. Speaking on planning website York.TownPlan.Org, Coun Brumby said: "It may be worth investigating the compulsory purchase of the Bootham Crescent football ground.

"It would be a difficult case that may not fall within current Government guidelines. If consent for housing were granted, it would become a prohibitively expensive operation.

"However, the Government has a draft bill to increase the powers of compulsory purchase. This could change the situation."

Mr Templeman said: "This is something we have considered already and we are not dismissing it at all.

"It may be difficult for the council to take action in this area but we don't want to eliminate it. It is part of what we are looking at.

"Meanwhile, we have had discussions all over Christmas to help the football club. We are concentrating our efforts and we have got to be mindful to where the club might be sited in the future."

Sophie McGill, of the York City Supporters' Trust, said the body was encouraged that the council was looking at "every possible detail". She said: "It is very positive that the council is doing all it can to look into every possible detail to try and ensure there is a football club and ensure the future of York City at Bootham Crescent."

Ian Hessay, managing director of Persimmon Homes, which has shares in Bootham Crescent Holdings, said the company was not in a position to comment.

He said: "This is an issue between the holding company and the local authority."

Updated: 11:34 Friday, January 03, 2003