POLLUTION levels could rocket in one of York's top congestion hot spots if new plans to redevelop the Barbican Centre go ahead, an angry ward councillor claims.

Mark Hill, Fishergate councillor and City of York Council Green group leader, opposed the original plans to build 178 new homes on the Barbican site.

Under the new plans, 240 homes would be built, with almost two-thirds having a parking place.

Coun Hill welcomed the possibility of an innovative hire car scheme on the site that could cut down on the number of cars being kept there. One way of running the scheme could see a hire car company permanently based at the Barbican with a guarantee a car could be available in double-quick time.

But Coun Hill said: "It would have to be quite ruthless to avoid the already high pollution levels in that area being added to. The atmosphere around the Fishergate gyratory is already monitored because of concerns over pollution, the last thing the area needs is more traffic."

Coun Hill said about 100 people attended the last public meeting about the Barbican.

He claimed they were unanimously against the plans.

"There will be far too much housing on what is a leisure site. The new plans would make an already bad scheme worse," Coun Hill added.

Keith Orrell, city council executive member for leisure and heritage, said developer Barbican Venture was considering various schemes to control car numbers.

He claimed the Liberal Democrats were as environmentally friendly as the Green Party.

Coun Orrell said: "The onus is on the developers to get the planning right. Because the land is owned by the council it could go to government office."

Coun Orrell said the planning process, which had yet begun, would see residents consulted and invited to voice their concerns.

He added: "Keeping pollution levels and the number of cars down is something we have to do in York.

"We need to make sure the city does not get even more congested."

The new plans will be debated at the council's executive meeting, on Tuesday, from 2pm.

Updated: 11:08 Friday, December 12, 2003