Nightclub bosses have hit out at 'old-fashioned' council policies which insist they must disguise a vital new security camera as a Victorian gas lamp.

Owners of the Gallery club, in Clifford Street, were told to install CCTV cameras or risk losing their licence.

But planning applications for the new camera have been repeatedly rejected by City of York Council, which insists it must be disguised as a vintage lamp - at considerable extra cost.

Last year, violence erupted in the Clifford Street area after the Ebor Day races. Police chiefs compared the scene to war-torn Beirut and took steps to revoke the licence at Silks night club. The disturbance was so serious that when new owners Northern Leisure applied to take over the licence of the club, re-named The Gallery, magistrates insisted a security camera must be installed on the front of the listed building.

But so far three planning applications for the camera have been turned down by councillors.

David Harrison, the night club's general manager, said the situation was becoming ridiculous. "The whole thing is a joke and has already cost us hundreds of pounds," he said.

"The money for the camera has been there for eight months now but we've had one application rejected after another.

"And now we are being asked to change the design to hide the camera in a Victorian-style gas lamp."

But members of city's planning committee say it is the club's responsibility to come up with an acceptable solution.

Coun Derek Smallwood, vice-chairman of the planning and transport committee, said: "There's always a balance to be struck with listed buildings between security requirements and aesthetic appearance.

"We are not asking the impossible - other businesses have managed to do it. But it appears the night club is looking for the cheapest solution rather than the best one."

But Mr Harrison firmly rejects the accusation the night club has sought to cut corners. He says the system they intend to use costs in of excess of £30,000 and goes beyond requirements.

PC Alan Sunderland, of York police licensing department, said it had insisted Northern Leisure should participate in the CCTV scheme and was keen to see a camera put up as soon as possible.

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