THE fate of a vandal-hit block of shops and flats in York is to be reconsidered, after a group of councillors called for its demolition.

The problems affecting Sanderson House, in Bramham Road, Acomb, are to be debated at a special scrutiny committee of City of York Council.

The building has become the focus of concern due to a recent increase in vandalism and anti-social behaviour, which has included youths getting into its roof void. The last remaining shop in the block has closed and none of the flats is occupied. In addition, it has been estimated that the cost of repairing the shops to the standard where they could be re-let is at least £18,000.

Earlier this month, following a meeting between the council's director of community services, Jim Crook, and the executive member for housing, Coun Viv Kind, it was agreed that the best short-term option for the building was to leave it empty but secure. The site would be redeveloped as soon as possible, following a consultation exercise with the local community about its future.

But the issue will be reconsidered at the scrutiny committee on Wednesday after three Liberal Democrat councillors - Steve Galloway, Nick Blitz and David Livesley - asked for it to be "called in".

They say: "The recommendation (option one) is neither the most cost-effective nor the most efficient means of tackling the long-standing problems of this block of flats."

Instead they say option three in the original officers' report - to demolish Sanderson House and make the site secure - "is in the better interests of local residents".

This option was also presented to the meeting between Mr Crook and Coun Kind, but officers said the loss of four flats would not help alleviate the need for temporary housing in the city, and might risk moving anti-social behaviour elsewhere.

"However, a demolition would remove the immediate focus of anti-social behaviour and send a message that the council is serious about the regeneration of the area," the report to that meeting added.

The other option considered at that meeting was to refurbish the flats for temporary homeless accommodation. But the report said there were no guarantees that vandalism and other anti-social activities would not recur.

Updated: 11:35 Monday, February 25, 2002