THE residents of York are being "cheated" out of their multi-million pound Barbican Centre investment, a leading Liberal Democrat councillor has claimed.

Quentin Macdonald, shadow executive member for leisure and heritage, made the claim while launching the party's local election leisure campaign.

He was helped at the launch by Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, who made his way to the Barbican after a walkabout in the city centre.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, Mr Kennedy was visiting York to boost the Lib Dem push for control of the city council.

He said: "York is an area where we are in a significant position. Obviously we hope to do better. It is a city I have visited many times before and I have always enjoyed my time here. There is a great sense of history here and also a great sense of friendliness among York's residents."

Of the Barbican Centre, Coun Macdonald said: "The best (redevelopment) offer is simply the best of a bad bunch...put simply, the people of York are being cheated out of their investment."

But council leisure chief Alan Jones said the Lib Dems had been involved with the Barbican project from the very start.

No alternative scheme had been offered by the opposition party, he said.

Coun Jones said: "All they (Lib Dems) can say is they want a major overview. If they have an alternative they should be coming forward and putting it on the table.

"A consultation is under way and no decision has been taken yet. Let's wait and see what the consultation results are then respond to them in the most positive manner we can.

"Space is at a premium, but if residents they tell us 'x' is important we want to do our best to provide that 'x'."

Conservative leader John Galvin said he could sympathise with the view that large sums were spent on the Barbican when it was built.

But he said: "That is now history. We have got to get the best deal we can and I am not sure what better deal we could have got.

"There is a pool that is getting to the end of its sell-by date, a centre that is costing the authority a lot of money and there is not oodles of money to throw at it.

"What is on the table is not bad for the residents of York. It will see a new swimming pool, a refurbished events hall and some housing."

Proposals from the Barbican's prospective developers, Barbican Venture, include spending £2.5million on the auditorium, building two hotels and an eight-lane county standard swimming pool.

A casino is another possibility.

The company's plans would also see the council receive £3million, to be spent on refurbishing other leisure facilities, including the Edmund Wilson baths.

The consultation process response deadline is April 14. Results are expected by early June.

Updated: 12:17 Friday, April 04, 2003