CALLS have been made for a “secret” part of a crucial report into a York coach and car park’s future to be made public as a decision on its potential sale approaches.

City of York Council’s cabinet will decide next week whether to approve selling the Union Terrace site to York St John University for a campus expansion, a proposal which has prompted massive public opposition.

A report by Coun Julie Gunnell, cabinet member for corporate services, has recommended going ahead with the deal, but a confidential section which the council’s Liberal Democrat group say concentrates on the car park’s market value has been withheld from public view.

Lib Dem councillor Nigel Ayre, whose party have called an extraordinary council meeting to debate withdrawing the sale proposals next Thursday, said this information should be released, with the ruling Labour group saying the council’s legal chiefs made the decision to keep it private.

A petition opposing the scheme, which Labour says would create new jobs and provide £2 million for a city-centre facelift scheme, has been signed by more than 11,000 people.

Coun Ayre said he was told the withheld section was only available to cabinet members and “those who can establish a need to know”, adding: “I find this absolutely staggering.

“I understand certain information needs to remain outside the public domain due to commercial confidentiality, but to block this information from elected members is shocking. The special council meeting to debate these proposals will involve all councillors, and it is only right they can access relevant information so they can take part in that debate.”

But council leader James Alexander said: “This is normal practice and is a matter for the council’s senior legal officer, who has made a ruling. It therefore has nothing to do with Labour. Coun Ayre should direct any gripe he has to the relevant officer.”

Meanwhile, York-based property firm The Helmsley Group has expressed a “strong interest” in buying Union Terrace and retaining its current use through a syndicate involving local residents and traders.

Ian McAndrew, the company’s director in charge of syndication, said the council would receive “a capital sum to fund city-wide investments” while protecting the car park, adding: “This is ideal for a syndicate and solves the council’s issue of needing money, protects best value and reflects the localism agenda.

“If the council wants capital, which is understandable given economic constraints, this answer could provide the best of both worlds.”