JUBILANT campaigners are celebrating after their church hall was given a reprieve.

Members of City of York Council's north west planning committee voted unanimously to overturn officers' recommendations to turn St Clement's Church Hall, in Cygnet Street, into housing.

Council leader and Bishophill ward councillor Dave Merrett had warned that if the application had been passed it would have "put every community facility in the city at risk".

Coun Merrett also blasted council officers who, he said, had misinterpreted a policy on exactly who should prove whether a community centre was well-used.

He said it was up to developers, not the community, to show a centre was underused and that there were viable alternatives.

The unanimous decision drew applause from a packed meeting, with many objecting to the application from Yorkshire Community Housing Limited.

The company planned to convert the building into nine "units" providing temporary residence for families who for various reasons had had to move from their previous accommodation but had yet to secure alternative housing.

The hall, a community resource for nearly 70 years, was bought by Yorkshire Community Housing in 2001. The keys were handed over in May this year. The sale unlocked delayed plans for the development of the church.

Speaking for the developer, David Johnson said Yorkshire Community Housing was working to meet "an urgent need identified by the council's housing section."

He said there were families "who desperately need temporary accommodation", and argued that community facilities were available at other nearby centres.

Isobel Bernays, chairwoman of a preservation trust set up to safeguard the community use of the hall, said the applicant had failed to show that the building was not needed - a stipulation of such applications.

She said: "We know there is demand. We will work with anyone who is looking to secure the future of this valuable resource."

Coun Merrett said local plan policies argued community buildings should not disappear unless there was no "continued demand".

After the meeting, Mrs Bernays said: "I am glad common sense and council policies have been upheld. The community can breathe a sigh of relief."

Updated: 16:12 Wednesday, November 20, 2002