A MAJOR amateur sports ground has been lost to York after plans for a multi-million pound complex were thrown out by councillors.

City of York Council's planning committee unanimously rejected the Civil Service Sports Council's (CSSC) proposed £7 million complex at Wigginton Road, Clifton Moor.

York Civil Service Club chairman Tony Tate said he was "very, very disappointed" at the decision, which meant the club would have no ground in future.

Asked whether the club would launch an appeal, CSSC vice-chairman Tony Constable said: "I should think we cannot now operate in York.

"We have looked at other sites in great detail, and the site that is on offer is the only one suitable for our needs."

But Mr Tate stressed that the CSSC would still have a strong presence in York and would be able to provide financial support for members to hire alternative sports facilities.

The CSSC's former 14-acre site in Boroughbridge Road closed because of dwindling numbers at the ground, which opened in 1951.

A major housebuilder has signed an option agreement on the site, with a sale expected by the end of November.

More than 20 sports clubs which used to play at Boroughbridge Road have now been forced to find new grounds, most of which have been elsewhere in York.

But two of the civil service's own football teams have been unable to find new grounds in York and now play at Kirk Hammerton.

Acomb Football Club, which used to meet on Sundays at Boroughbridge Road, now plays at Dringhouses.

The CSSC joined Malton-based S Harrison Developments to propose an 11-acre complex that would have included a two-storey sports building containing two swimming pools, two squash courts, a spa, sauna and gymnasium, as well as a bistro bar and creche.

Outside, there would have been 12 all-weather five-a-side football pitches, two full-size football pitches, four tennis courts and a cricket pitch, as well as parking spaces for 231 cars.

The CSSC estimated that membership of the club would have increased from 1,000 to 5,000.

Mr Tate said the club would have worked with all schools in York to give young people the benefit of its planned facilities.

But members of the planning committee rejected the complex because it would have been within York's Green Belt.

Development control officer Patrick Sutor said that the complex would affect the views of York Minster from the north.

Planning officers also felt that the plans did not provide sufficient information on public transport links.

But the intrusion into the Green Belt was by far the strongest reason for rejecting the plans.

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said: "I don't think I have read or heard anything that would make me feel we could approve this in its current form.

"I think if this was allowed we would have great difficulty in resisting further developments on green belt land."

Asked whether the council would assist the CSSC to find an alternative ground, Coun Reid said today: "I don't think we will be offering them an alternative ground, but the council is always willing to help people and give advice."

Updated: 10:44 Friday, October 24, 2003