A DECISION to prevent York Art Gallery from charging residents to enter has been explained by the councillor who made it.

Cllr Nigel Ayre, City of York Council's executive member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, decided to postpone plans to charge citizens £7.50 to access the revamped venue when it re-opens on Saturday.

The Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee had already proposed York Museum Trust's plans should be looked at again before Cllr Ayre made his decision.

The committee will now review the plans before a decision is made by the Executive Committee in September.

Cllr Ayre said: "The clear message from the cross-party scrutiny committee is that they are unhappy with the proposals currently on the table.

"We have already negotiated some potential concessions with the YMT such as free access for residents under 16 and for all residents on selected days; however, more work is clearly needed after Wednesday night's discussion.

"I recognise that the YMT is under financial pressure following budget cuts from the previous Labour Council.

"However, we need to ensure as wider access as possible for residents and I will be speaking again to the Trust about what can be done in regards to increasing free entry days or offering discounted charges for York Card holders all year round."

YMT has seen its subsidy from City of York Council cut by 60 per cent or almost £1 million since 2012, leading bosses to claim they had to bring in the charges to raise revenue.

Cllr Dave Taylor, chairman of the Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee, said: "I'm pleased with the decision and I'm pleased that the executive member is going to listen to members of the committee and the members of the public that spoke.

"I'm also pleased it was a cross-party decision to defer with the new Lib Dem councillor Stephen Fenton proposing to defer and Cllr Janet Looker proposing something similar.

"It was a real cross-party effort."

Cllr Taylor is now urging people to take advantage of the new gallery and visit when they can.

"I would encourage all citizens of York to come in and have a look at the fabulous new York Art Gallery.

"I can't promise there will be an outcome where there will be no charges but at least now we have an opportunity to negotiate a better deal for the citizens of York."

A planned "art strike" this Saturday to coincide with the reopening of York Art Gallery, will go ahead as planned. Residents are invited to bring their own artworks to an open-air exhibition in Exhibition Square from 11am, to join the campaign for the continuation of free access to art.