A YORK councillor called for the dismissal of an appeal into the refusal of planning permission for a multimillion-pound sports complex.

Richard Moore, councillor for the Skelton, Rawcliffe and Clifton Without ward, told a public planning inquiry that he believed the application for the 11-acre site did not meet the "very special circumstances" needed for development in York's green belt and was an intrusion on the green corridor.

Transport to the proposed site off Wigginton Road, near Clifton Moor, would be a problem, said Coun Moore, with the First bus company set to reduce services to the area from September 5.

However, Richard Phillips QC, representing the Civil Service Sports Council (CCSC) and Malton-based S Harrison Developments Ltd, who want to create the complex, said the bus company had offered to extend its No 6 service to serve the site every ten minutes, should the development go ahead.

Plans for the £7 million sports complex were thrown out by City of York councillors last year.

If the appeal is successful, the developers plan to build 12-all-weather five-a-side football pitches, two further football pitches, a cricket square and four all-weather tennis courts.

A two-floor sports building with distinctive metal curved roof would provide swimming pools, four health and fitness studios, a gym, two squash courts, changing rooms and a sauna, as well as steam, aromatherapy, spa and relaxation rooms.

In a statement to the planning inspectorate, Coun Moore said all the indoor leisure facilities offered by the plan were already met in York.

Mr Phillips said the "very special circumstances" in favour of the plan were compelling, with a clear need for more leisure facilities and no alternative site available. He said views of York Minster would not be impaired but enhanced.

A decision is expected to be announced within five weeks.

Updated: 10:43 Friday, September 03, 2004