A HOSTEL for homeless people could be open through the day in an effort to stop neighbours feeling intimidated by its residents.

The Arc Light project, based in Leeman Road, only lets users in after 7pm.

But managers are seeking permission to open round the clock after complaints about guests waiting outside.

"With hours of opening currently restricted, guests tend to hang around the building waiting for it to open at a time when the building is not staffed," said Cliff Carruthers, head of development control with City of York Council.

"Similarly, when guests leave the premises at 8am in the morning, they can congregate on routes taken by people on their way to work and this can be intimidating.

"The project considers that if the building is open and staffed for 24 hours at a time there will be no concentration of guests entering and leaving the building at opening and closing hours."

The plan has been supported by the National Railway Museum, which neighbours it.

But it has suggested conditions which would stop Arc Light residents from being in the museum's grounds. Mr Carruthers said: "It is unclear to what extent the 24-hour opening would increase the propensity of clients to hang around the museum during the working day.

"The museum also notes that its ability to exclude unwelcome visitors is limited. A condition is suggested to ensure that Arc Light takes responsibility for ensuring that their actual and potential clients do not trespass on the museum site."

But Mr Carruthers said the 24-hour opening could also lessen the amount of homeless people in York city centre during the day.

"It has a benefit in terms of the wider impact on the city centre, given that the client group will have a facility to attend, rather than frequenting the city centre," he said.

Councillors meet on Thursday to discuss the proposal.

They are expected to agree to it.

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, September 21, 2002