PROPOSALS to relocate York's Arc Light centre to a city car park have won backing from a nearby college.

Dianne Willcocks, principal of York St John University College, said she had watched "with mounting disquiet" the "chorus of disapproval" surrounding Arc Light's potential move to the Union Terrace car park - just across the road from the college's main site, off Lord Mayor's Walk.

The Union Terrace site is one of four across York which have been earmarked for a potential new home for Arc Light - and city leaders are due to select one of them on May 2.

A local campaign has started in the area around Union Terrace objecting to the move, with a list of objections drawn up - including safety concerns for the nearby college and its students.

But Professor Willcocks said she would welcome Arc Light into the local community if it were to move there.

"My concern increases when the name of York St John becomes associated with this set of objections," she said.

"Let me make it clear that the university college has no intention of lodging objections. Nor do we fear for the safety of our students, our staff or our visitors.

"Presently, students volunteer with Arc Light, and I commend their compassion and community spirit.

"Recently we have made a donation of studio easels from the art and design department to stock the art room for Arc Light residents.

"Were Arc Light to become a near neighbour we would welcome the opportunity to discuss ways in which we might offer support and educational guidance to the community of residents.

"We try to be good citizens. We feel sad when people are not able to show compassion to others in society less well-off then themselves."

Professor Willcocks' words were echoed by the college's student union president, Jack Woodhams, who said students would also welcome Arc Light if it came to Union Terrace.

"For this to go ahead, I can't see anything but good coming out of it," he said.

Rob Gray, president of local residents' association CUPRA (Claremont Terrace, Union Terrace, Portland Street Residents' Association), which is objecting to the proposal, said: "It's always useful for someone to contribute to the debate. There are still people who know nothing about the project." But he said he would like to hear the college's views on the 14 points raised by local campaigners on why Union Terrace was not a suitable site for Arc Light. He said: "We really support the Arc Light project, I just feel for a number of reasons it's in the wrong part of town."

Angry residents plan city centre protest over homeless centre sites

ANGRY residents opposed to two of the potential new sites for the Arc Light Centre are to launch a mass protest in York city centre.

City council chiefs are consulting on a shortlist of four possible new homes for York's homeless centre - Union Terrace, Marygate and Nunnery Lane car parks, and the former Reynard's Garage in Piccadilly.

Last night, more than 40 residents attended a public meeting at the Minster Inn in Marygate to discuss their opposition to using the nearby car park.

A further 80 protesters were at a similar meeting at All Saints' RC lower school, in Nunnery Lane, opposing the use of that area.

Marygate residents have joined forces with those living near the Union Terrace site in a bid to strengthen their protest by putting up a "united front" against building the centre in any residential area.

They voted unanimously in favour of a mass protest on the streets of York.

Anne Guerri, who lives in Marygate, said: "We should have a demonstration in York city centre to reinforce our views to the council and anyone who doesn't know what is happening. We need to get out there on the streets in numbers."

Hundreds of people have already signed a petition against building the new centre in a residential area.

Sally Roberts, also of Marygate, said the area was already isolated and prone to drug-related crime at night. She said she was afraid that crime would increase if the centre was built nearby.

At the Nunnery Lane meeting residents were joined by local traders and parents teachers and pupils from All Saints Lower School.

Updated: 09:33 Tuesday, April 04, 2006