YORK MP Hugh Bayley has taken the fight over the new Arc Light homeless centre to the Government.

The Labour MP has spoken to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's office to see if a time limit on a £3.5 million Government grant for the new centre can be lifted, so more consultation can be carried out.

He spoke out as a steady stream of about 300 angry Clifton residents turned out at an exhibition at St Luke's Church hall yesterday to get a first glimpse of controversial proposals to move the Arc Light homeless centre.

More than 2,000 people have signed petitions protesting against proposals to build a "one-stop shop" 34-bed homeless centre at the former Shipton Street School in Clifton.

Mr Bayley said he thought City of York Council had handled the matter badly, and given the impression that there were no other options but to place a new centre in Shipton Street.

He also criticised the council for giving the impression the Government would take the money away if it was not agreed before the end of the financial year.

"I think the council needs to take a deep breath and accept it has a responsibility to consult with local people," he said. "I think the council owes it to the public in that area to do that and show they are genuinely listening and tell them what alternative sites have been considered."

The Evening Press revealed yesterday how local councillor Ken King was asked more than a month ago to delay telling residents about the plans, by the council's acting director of community services, Bill Hodson.

Mr Hodson, who attended the exhibition, said: "The majority of the people I have spoken to have anxieties and don't think that this is the right location and, while they have a lot of time for the work Arc Light does, they don't want the centre there. There aren't any easy answers. The object of the exercise was to come and listen to what people had to say."

Mr Hodson said it would be September at the earliest before plans would be submitted to the council.

Arc Light boss Jeremy Jones said: "We are a long way off delivering this and one thing we need is local knowledge, which is why we are holding events like this. The homeless and the problems they have are a very small part of the community at large. But they are a group that has been marginalised for years, and all the work that we do is to try and work with them so that they are no longer homeless.

"I am not aware of a single project in the country that hasn't resulted in local reaction, but I am aware of many projects that have come into the local community elsewhere and been a success."

Local residents groups will be holding two meetings at Burton Stone Community Centre, in Evelyn Crescent, off Burton Stone Lane, at 1.30pm on Monday and at 7.45pm next Wednesday.

Mr Bayley will be at the Wednesday meeting.

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, August 17, 2005