A SHORTLIST of bids for York's Barbican has been cut down to five.

City of York Council's executive members agreed to dismiss six offers, reducing the number of bids from 11.

Those remaining have been asked to re-submit their plans, giving increased detail about what they propose for the site.

But councillors, who met yesterday, were keen to point out that leisure, fitness and entertainment facilities had to be given prominence in the bids. Coun Dave Merrett, who chaired the meeting, said: "The aim is to find out how we can better achieve continuation of the important range of facilities and activities that the Barbican offers.

"Given our financial restraints we have to find another way to achieve that, and this is an ongoing process to ensure we get the best arrangements on behalf of our citizens."

The Barbican Centre was put up for sale in July after councillors admitted they could not afford to continue funding swimming on the site, which needed major re-development.

Subsidies of £660,000 a year are currently paid by York's taxpayers.

But prospective developers were told a public 25-metre pool must remain.

Council leader Rod Hills promised its future following major opposition to plans to close it, led by the Evening Press Save Our Swim campaign.

Bidders are also expected to be forced to include an auditorium in their plans.

Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway revealed that most bids included the intention to demolish the centre - meaning a new auditorium and swimming pool would have to be built - and use much of the site for housing.

The sports hall, bowling green and coach park is likely to be lost, and council officers are already looking at the possibility of moving them elsewhere in the city.

Coun Alan Jones, the council's leisure spokesman, said: "Demolition could be involved, but we would require rebuilding of a swimming pool and auditorium to start straight away.

"If the bidders tell us they want to knock down a building that's showing its age very rapidly, and replace it with a new one, then we'll listen to that.

"This is about improving the facilities that are there, not taking them away."

The five shortlisted bids come from:

Town Centre and KW Linfoot

Taylor Woodrow Property

S Harrison Developments Ltd

The Barbican Venture

lLandmark Development Projects.

Fiona Evans, who was central in the Save Our Swim campaign, said today: "The only legitimate stakeholders in the Barbican are the citizens and users, and I hope councillors remember that in any future consultations."

Updated: 10:15 Saturday, January 12, 2002