THE chairman of an historic York sports and social club has called for the proposed York Central development's boundaries to be urgently redrawn - as they cut right through the club's headquarters.

Mike Newsome, who chairs the Queen Street-based York Railway Institute (YRI), said it would be "a disaster" for YRI if it had to relocate part of its activities while York Central, also known as the teardrop site, was developed.

Facilities cut off by the boundary include the gym, three squash courts and the band room, he said.

Speaking at a meeting of York Open Planning Forum, a group set up to raise awareness and understanding of planning issues, Mr Newsome said: "We have been in the gym there for over 100 years, but will lose part of our home if an access road to the site is built through Queen Street.

Mr Newsome said YRI fully supported the proposals to redevelop the 85-acre site, behind York Station.

He added: "The area is crying out for it. But our view is the boundary should go right around the institute, and not through it."

Roy Templeman, City of York Council's director of environment and development services, told last night's meeting he knew there were "high quality facilities" at the institute.

But he said the facilities had "perhaps seen better days", and were in space that had significant development potential.

An aim of the development was to look at some "really special" facilities for the provision of sport in the city, Mr Templeman added.

The meeting was told that access was a big issue for the site. Using Leeman Road and Marble Arch only would leave the site gridlocked, Mr Templeman admitted.

He said: "If we leave it to car access only the whole thing will collapse. We must look at pedestrian and cycle routes, while we are seriously looking at other modes such as an ultra light rail system."

Dr Keith Davies said he was concerned by a phrase in the design brief which said buildings would be topped at six storeys - "with scope to create landmark buildings and gateways which exceed these height limits".

"Is there a height limit, or is the sky the limit?" he said.

Mr Templeman replied that there could be a future debate on some higher buildings, such as a viewing tower or piece of feature architecture.

Updated: 12:59 Friday, January 10, 2003