ARC Light protesters were today urged not to "wreck" the project's dream of a new home after council bosses in York picked Union Terrace car park as the preferred site for the homeless charity.

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway made the plea after campaigners in the area around the car park vowed to "contest vigorously" any planning application from Arc Light to develop Union Terrace.

Members of the authority's ruling executive spent two hours considering which of four sites to choose as the destination for a 35-bed care home for Arc Light.

They had the choice of council car parks at Marygate, Nunnery Lane or Union Terrace, as well as the former Reynard's garage at Piccadilly.

But they plumped for Union Terrace after deciding it best met the needs of Arc Light, which had also indicated it was the project's ideal new home.

The decision led to angry outbursts from people in the public gallery, who had to apply for tickets to gain entrance to the meeting.

Marygate was discounted because of issues with lighting and Piccadilly was considered unlikely to be ready in the strict timescale Arc Light had from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to spend funding for the project.

Nunnery Lane was ruled out because of design restrictions and the delays which could have been caused by relocating so close to the historic Bar Walls.

After the meeting, Coun Galloway said the authority was committed to working with residents as the project moved forward.

"I gave an assurance that the precise location (where the building will be sited) at Union Terrace is still open to debate and I will be asking Arc Light and York Housing Association to be as flexible as possible in meeting residents' wishes in that respect," he said.

"There has to be a planning application and I do hope residents will take up an offer to join a joint group, which will include the council and the police, to try and address their concerns.

"While I expect the organisation concerned (CUPRA) to put in an objection to the planning application, I hope they will reflect that trying to wreck the Arc Light project is not in the interests of the city as a whole."

But Jeremy Bloom, of the Claremont Terrace, Union Terrace and Portland Street Residents' Association (CUPRA), said the body would carry out its threat to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman, claiming maladministration. Mr Bloom also said: "We also intend to contest vigorously any planning application for development of the site on the grounds that it is contrary to policies in the local plan and has an unsustainable impact on residential, commercial and public amenities."

Arc Light 'has key role' in eliminating problems of homelessness in York

COUNCIL leader Steve Galloway told angry residents the authority was "committed" to finding Arc Light a new home.

In his speech to the executive meeting, he challenged the views of protesters that crime would increase in the area where the centre is re-homed - arguing crime would actually rise if the charity did not exist.

"People assume that if this facility is moved closer to their home or business, there will in some way automatically be an increase in, at least, antisocial behaviour or at the worst some claim that there will be an increase in the most serious forms of crime," he said.

"My view is that crime levels are likely to worsen only if we fail to provide this facility."

Coun Galloway added that Arc Light formed a key part of the solution to eliminating homelessness in York.

He said: "I give little weight to those objections which list existing problems in areas and which assert that these will get worse if an Arc Light facility is provided.

"We would not be supporting the development of the Arc Light service unless we believed that it would lead to a reduction in crime levels.

"The users of Arc Light are much more likely to be the victims of crime than the cause.

"My view is that Arc Light forms a key part of the solution to eliminating rough sleeping in the city. It is the first and essential safety net for those who - often through no fault of their own - have found themselves destitute and with no one to turn to.

"It is not surprising that few local people have been prepared at this stage to support a local Arc Light. I pay tribute to those who have had the courage to stand against the local flow and speak up for the people who use Arc Light.

"With respect to their positions, I can say that those voices have not persuaded me towards a particular location. My judgement is an objective one, one based on the quality of the arguments put forward."

'The clock is ticking, and there is still a long way to go'

A DOZEN speakers turned out to make their case on Arc Light's future - and the decision to choose Union Terrace car park as the preferred site led to plenty of reaction.

Here's what a few of the key players had to say.

Jeremy Jones, director of Arc Light, said: "To not site the Arc Light centre in a residential area almost defines social exclusion, and we are talking about inclusion being encouraged.

"The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's clock has started ticking and there is still a long way to go. "What's especially encouraging - and we were grateful for the unanimous support of the executive on Union Terrace - was that there was cross-party support for Arc Light."

The Rev Paul Wordsworth, founder of Arc Light, said: "I have personally been through quite a lot of pain about this.

"It saddens me greatly when I feel people categorise us as some kind of monsters.

"I knew there would be people who would be happy their site has not been chosen and this is just another small step along the road.

"The next step is the planning application when people will have another opportunity to discuss their concerns."

Jeremy Bloom, of the Claremont Terrace, Union Terrace and Portland Street Residents' Association, said: "We are not surprised by the decision and we will take the necessary action against the council.

"This course of action is a source of deep regret to CUPRA.

"We have always maintained that we support the aims and ethos of the charity and have no desire to see the project diminished by a less than optimal relocation or further funds lost through delay as a result of our actions.

"Sadly, the executive's decision has left us with no other course of action."

Coun Janet Looker, Guildhall ward councillor, who supported the Piccadilly site, said: "I have always been a very strong supporter of the work of Arc Light.

"Our concerns are that when the most recent report came forward it sadly seemed there were issues around the Piccadilly site which hadn't been there when we first started down this particular road.

"We should give all our support and encouragement to Arc Light and make as few difficulties about Piccadilly as possible."

Updated: 09:08 Wednesday, May 03, 2006