AMBULANCE chiefs may delay a planned move away from their current base in York, after the development proposed for the area was scrapped.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) had planned to leave Dundas Street, at Hungate, and move to a temporary home on the A19 before moving on to a permanent new base at Yearsley Bridge.

But service bosses are now considering an offer from City of York Council which would see them stay put in Dundas Street, until Yearsley Bridge is ready.

The move had been planned to make way for new council headquarters at Hungate, but the council is now looking elsewhere.

A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said the discussions were still very tentative.

“YAS can confirm that it has received an approach by City of York Council which is under consideration,” he said.

If the offer is accepted, it will give the council an extra £22,000 in rental income.

Neil Hindhaugh, head of property services at the council, said: “The £22,000 saving is a one-off for 2009/10. This would result if the ambulance service accepts the council’s proposal to remain at Dundas Street for a further eight months, and continue to pay rent up until that date.

“Its current lease expires on March 31, 2009. The ambulance service has not yet confirmed or accepted this offer.”

The ambulance service has said its move to Yearsley Bridge will improve its ability to serve the public. Vince Larvin, its assistant director of operations for North Yorkshire, told The Press previously: “We have needed a new ambulance station in York for some time. When Dundas Street opened, it was in an ideal position, but the city has changed and grown around it and demand has altered, so although it has served us well, it is no longer feasible for us to remain there.”

He said moving to Yearsley Bridge would mean being close to the city centre, but even closer to the hospital.

“We feel the plans we have put in place will allow us to meet our response times more effectively, as well as to provide roving ambulance cover across York.”