THE redevelopment of York’s Barbican Centre today lies in tatters after the firm behind the revamp failed to stump up its deposit in time, The Press understands.

Absolute Leisure Ltd was due to pay more than £3 million into a secure account by midnight last Monday night, before starting work on the auditorium.

The firm failed to meet that deadline, and legal officials at City of York Council have spent the past week re-assessing their options. The Press understands AbsoluteLeisure is being told the deal is off, leaving the multi-million redevelopment plan dead. One senior source at the council said Absolute Leisure had said it was struggling to fund the revamp, and would not be able to do so before the end of the month at the earliest. The January 5 deadline was the latest in a series to be missed by Absolute Leisure, and council officials are now to walk away from the provisional contract with the firm.

Labour leader David Scott said: “Quite what will happen next is anyone’s guess but decisive action must be taken by the council. Absolute Leisure has failed to demonstrate a sound commitment to the project and after five years the council appears to be back to square one which is disastrous for residents.”

Council leader Andrew Waller could not say what would happen to the building, which has hosted only a handful of events since closing in 2004.

He said he “had hoped” Absolute Leisure would have paid the deposit by last Monday’s deadline.

He said: “We are hoping to make progress on the Barbican and our objective is to get the building into public use.”

Coun Waller said he was “always an optimist” but declined to answer questions on what would happen if the deal with Absolute Leisure was scrapped.

Conservative leader Ian Gillies said: “It was naïve of the Liberal Democrats to think the redevelopment was going to happen.

“I am not surprised one bit. If they could not do it in good economic times, there is not a cat in hell’s chance they will do it in bad economic times.”

Veteran Barbican campaigner Ernie Dickinson said: “It is not really a time for recriminations but I have got to say that the council executive has made a real pig’s ear of this from the word go. They offered Absolute Leisure a give-away deal, with no protective conditions for the York taxpayer, and this is the end result. The executive has been warned plenty of times. They should resign – simple as that.” He said the most important thing was what happened next.

The Press contacted Absolute Leisure last week. On Tuesday, the firm denied the scheme was in danger, but on Friday managing director Tony Knox failed to return the paper’s calls.


Campaigner to set up new group

CAMPAIGNER Ernie Dickinson today said he planned to launch a new group, in an attempt to get a swimming pool and sports centre back at the Barbican.

He said the Save Our Barbican (SOB) group, set up in 2004 to oppose the planned privatisation and redevelopment of the site, would now be wound up and a new group called the Barbican Association formed to look for a way forward.

Mr Dickinson said: “We hope to call an open public meeting and call for support from everybody to put pressure on the council to do what they should have done in the beginning and put a proper sports centre and swimming pool on that site, based on the Barbican Centre and Kent Street coach park.”


Timeline

2001 – City of York Council outlines controversial plans to sell or redevelop the Barbican site

2002 – Council agrees to redevelop the Barbican to provide new swimming facilities, keep the auditorium and provide cash to upgrade swimming facilities elsewhere in the city

Feb 2003 – Barbican Venture is chosen as preferred developers. The firm promises a county-standard pool, a health suite and activity studio, a £2.5 million auditorium revamp with casino, two hotels, 158 apartments, some parking and £3 million of capital receipts to spend elsewhere.

May 2003 – The newly-elected Liberal Democrats call for changes to the plans and new ones by Barbican Venture and Absolute Leisure Ltd, including 240 flats and a 135-bed hotel with conferencing facilities and a restaurant, are tabled in December 2003.

Feb 2004 – The Save Our Barbican group is launched, opposing the redevelopment. It claims sporting facilities are being lost when they are most needed, and claim the council hasn’t fully consulted the public. The council criticise the group, saying sporting facilities will improve.

June 2004 – The Barbican pool closes. The council is criticised for closing the centre before redevelopment plans are approved.

Oct 2004 – Save Our Barbican applies for a judicial review of the council’s decision to grant planning permission to Barbican Venture. The council warns the move will delay the redevelopment, jeopardise hopes of a new pool, and result in hefty legal bills. Simultaneously, there are rows over proposed new pool, which critics say will be too small.

June 2005 – Save Our Barbican’s judicial review is thrown out.

Jan 2006 – Plans for a new pool on the Barbican site are scrapped. The council blames delays caused by the protesters, coupled with falling land values for leaving it with receipts of £7.05 million – £2.5 million less than envisaged.

Aug 2006 – The redevelopment hits a fresh obstacle, over a legal hitch in the original permission, which demanded the provision of a replacement swimming pool. The condition is overturned and the Government rejects calls by Save Our Barbican for a public inquiry into the amendment.

Jan 2007 – Absolute Leisure says it will be ready this month or next to begin its revamp.

June 2007 – The Barbican loses the UK Snooker Championships, due to uncertainty over the site’s future.

Aug 2007 – The old Barbican pool building is demolished.

Dec 2007 – Absolute Leisure promise to begin work “next week”. But it is delayed again.

April 2008 – Absolute Leisure applies to amend its plans.

Sep 2008 – Fresh talks are held between the council and Absolute Leisure, with a view to getting the work started.

Jan 2009 – Absolute Leisure fails to make a required deposit of more than £3 million. The council says enough is enough. The deal is off and the redevelopment in tatters. Nearly five years after closing, the auditorium remains empty and the pool site is a pile of rubble.