A VANDAL-struck block of flats in York is to remain standing despite calls from some councillors to demolish it months before it is due to be redeveloped.

The decision by City of York Council's approvals/social services committee last night will allay the fears of local residents and the city's bus operator that demolishing Sanderson House in Bramham Road, Chapelfields, would create an even more attractive site for criminals particularly in light of recent attacks on buses in the city.

A decision was made last month by the council's chief officer and Coun Viv Kind, executive member for housing, to leave the building empty but secure until it is redeveloped.

But that decision was called in by Liberal Democrat councillors Steve Galloway, Nick Blitz and David Livesley, and at a special scrutiny calling-in committee it was agreed that the building should instead by demolished, leaving an empty site until such time as redevelopment takes place.

However the committee last night voted in favour of the original decision to leave the building standing.

Members received a letter from the chief fire officer with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, which said that to leave the building standing would create an increased risk of arson.

But Coun Kind argued that wasteland could become a dumping ground for cars, which are also vulnerable to arson.

She said: "The police have said that ... in their view a well-secured building is less of an attraction and a problem than an open site which would have all the risks of dumping of cars and the problems of arson that would create.

But Coun Galloway said: "It seems to me that it would be easier to manage the empty site than it would be if the building is left derelict. No building is totally secure."

Updated: 08:36 Wednesday, March 20, 2002