YORK people turned out to give their views on how a long-derelict piece of land should be redeveloped - and it looks like new homes are on the way.

The land, in Crichton Avenue, Clifton, has been empty since the Imperial Hotel was demolished in the early 1990s.

It soon became a magnet for nuisance youths, and nearby shopkeepers have said the land put potential customers off.

Now though, changes are in sight, as owners Harrison Construction, City of York Council and the Tees Valley housing association visited the site to show residents three different sets of plans.

One was for a combined development of houses and flats, the second for all flats, the third all houses.

Residents were asked to give their views verbally and through questionnaires.

And while the results are not yet known, Clifton Residents' Association committee member Doug Cook said he expected the preference to be for houses.

"They have said all along they don't want flats. I would be surprised if they said anything too different today," he said.

An elderly resident agreed.

"The reason we don't want flats is because we are worried the people causing the problems on this land are the same sort of people who would want to move into the flats," said the resident, who asked not to be named.

But Peter Croft, who lives on Burton Green, said he would be happy as long as "something" was built on the land.

He said: "It has been derelict too long and building something there has to be better than leaving it as it is.

"Then we might see the last of these kids making a nuisance of themselves."

Neil Terrett, City of York Council housing development manager, said the response from residents had been "excellent".

He said: "We have had a lot of people here, aged from seven to 70, so it is fair to say a wide range of views have been expressed.

"Each view, no matter who it is from, is welcome and relevant, and will be taken into account when the final decision is made."

Updated: 12:04 Wednesday, September 12, 2001