IT should be in a central location, should win the support of the local

community after full consultation - and should NOT be slap bang in the middle of a residential area.

Those are the views of councillors representing wards where York's Arc Light homeless centre might eventually end up.

The Evening Press reported last night that City of York Council had drawn up a list of 36 possible locations across the city to which the centre might move.

The Arc Light, which needs to leave its current outdated premises in Leeman Road, abandoned its original plans to move to the former Shipton Street School last year after a wave of protests from local residents.

Officers revealed which sites might now be chosen so the "whole picture was available to all", and people could be asked for their views.

Some of the potential sites lie in the Micklegate ward, including a former working men's club in Bishopthorpe Road, and Nunnery Lane car park.

One of the ward's councillors, Sandy Fraser, said today: "Some of these suggested locations would clearly be unsuitable. For instance, the Nunnery Lane car park, because of its close proximity to the City Walls. I think there would perhaps be a view on that from English Heritage."

He said it was essential there was full consultation with the local community before a site was chosen, and that the community was "reasonably comfortable" with the decided location.

Coun Fraser also said he understood the Arc Light's preference would be to remain in the York Central area, and he thought this would be a good idea if it could be included in the redevelopment without jeopardising it.

He said: "It isn't the present location that's the problem, it's the building."

Several other suggested locations, including Hospital Fields Road and St George's Field, are in the Fishergate ward. But local councillor Andy D'Agorne said he believed it should be based in a central location, where the need was greatest.

He said most of the suggested locations in his ward were too far out, resulting in homeless people having to tramp the streets each night to get to them. The only one that could be considered central was St George's Field, but that would be subject to flooding problems.

Other possible locations are in Guildhall ward, where councillor Brian Watson said: "There are places that are more appropriate than others, but there must be proper consultation, and the community must be happy with the chosen location.

"It's essential it is not sited bang in the middle of a residential area."

Two possible sites, Clifton Family Centre and Ashbank, are in Clifton - the ward where the Arc Light's abandoned first choice, Shipton Street School, is situated.

Clifton councillor Alan Jones said: "Where it went wrong last time was that they tried to foist it on residents. There has to be proper, full consultation this time. Agreement from residents is very important, although wherever they want to put it, it's going to affect somebody, and residents have to accept that."

Updated: 09:50 Wednesday, February 01, 2006