SPORTING leaders have slammed City of York Council leisure chiefs for a lack of response over their radical proposals to sell off the Barbican Centre.

Members of York District Sports Council (YDSC) say they have been virtually ignored since they sent copies of their controversial report - Taking Sport Into The 21st Century - to senior councillors and leisure bosses.

Vice-chairman Malcolm Johnson said the report represented the only detailed blueprint for safeguarding the future of sport in York.

The sports council claims that as much as £30 million could be generated from selling the Barbican site.

It proposes to use the cash to create six "mini-centres of excellence", a new £7 million swimming pool and a £3 million regional bowling centre.

But council chiefs say there is only one viable option for redevelopment of the Barbican Centre. This is the Barbican Venture bid which includes a county-standard swimming pool, improving the auditorium, and a high-quality hotel.

"I'm impatient for action," said Mr Johnson.

"We've been talking with the council for four years, but we're no further on than when we first started.

"It feels like we're living on two different planets.

"Our proposals have been virtually ignored - we've only received one reply. We're viewed as amateurs."

YDSC member Chris Houseman said: "As providers of leisure space the council is way behind the national standard. We want a meaningful meeting with them to examine all these issues in detail."

But Charlie Croft, City of York Council's assistant director of education and leisure, said they had co-ordinated a multi-agency sporting blueprint - Making A Difference - of which the YDSC was an integral part.

"They are fully involved in this blueprint and I find it odd that they have said otherwise," he said.

"They were consulted over the Barbican in 2000. The public were absolutely clear that the priority was to maintain swimming and an auditorium at the site. I recognise the sports council has a different view.

"They are very impatient for us to come up with services now, but we need money to make this happen and there are other priorities.

"We believe they have some great ideas and fundamentally there is little difference between us."

Updated: 10:44 Friday, January 24, 2003