IT should be Piccadilly. That's the view of Labour leaders in York who have called on the city council to choose the former Reynard's garage as Arc Light's new home.

At a meeting of the Labour group's shadow executive, party chiefs indicated the Piccadilly ex-garage was the "most preferable" of the four potential sites being considered for the homeless charity.

The group has also called on the Liberal Democrats to relocate the venue of Tuesday's meeting, which will decide Arc Light's future, so that "all those members of the public who wish to attend are able to do so".

Leader Dave Merrett said: "After careful consideration at the shadow executive we believe that the Piccadilly site is the best of the four sites both in terms of meeting the needs of Arc Light and taking into account the consultation with residents about all four sites as it is clearly the majority of residents' preference.

"We consider that it is the most central site with the best access to relevant services and will have the lowest impact on residential amenity. It is also the only one of the four sites actually designated for housing in the draft Local Plan."

Seven members of City of York Council's executive will decide on May 2 which of Nunnery Lane, Marygate, Union Terrace car parks or the garage should be picked as the preferred site for Arc Light's relocation.

The charity must find a new home as its current accommodation at Leeman Road is unsuitable for its growing needs.

All three car park sites have aroused public opposition and Coun Merrett has criticised the plan to hold Tuesday's meeting in the Guildhall - with space for just 60 people on a ticketed basis.

He said: "We have urged Coun Galloway to move the meeting to an alterative venue following the commitment that we gave at the recent joint ward meetings.

"The council's own constitution clearly states that York's citizens have the right to attend meetings of the executive and the Lib Dems should honour this commitment, particularly on an issue which is so important to local residents."

But Coun Galloway said: "The venue of the executive meeting has been formally advertised. Not all seats in the council public gallery have, in any event, been taken up so there is no need to even consider the expense and potential inconvenience of switching the venue of the meeting at this late stage."

Updated: 09:19 Saturday, April 29, 2006