BIDS for York's Barbican Centre will not fund the promised renovation of a city swimming pool, a senior council source said today.

Of two offers made for the site, one would bring in only £1 million for City of York Council.

The other would provide nothing, although the site itself is estimated to be worth £10 million.

Councillors had also promised to fund major refurbishment of Yearsley swimming pool with money generated by the sale.

Of the two remaining bids, the one reportedly most favoured by councillors would upgrade the Barbican pool to a county standard, eight-lane facility. It would keep the auditorium and build new housing.

The source said: "It's the only bid which actually gives the council any money, but it doesn't give enough to modernise Yearsley pool and give that a new lease of life.

"The other bidders won't pay the council for the site, but if they are given it they will run a swimming pool and auditorium for us."

That bid is said to be similar to one already rejected which aimed to build an international conference and exhibition centre, along with keeping a swimming pool.

Charlie Croft, City of York Council's assistant director of education and leisure, said the details of the bids were changeable.

He said: "At this stage we are looking at which developer is best for us to work with.

"We are looking at what choices they can bring forward and which offers the best quality.

"When we have decided on one, we will go out to consultation. There'll be a kind of menu offered to the public, asking things like: do you want a high standard of pool and not much money, or a lower standard and more money?

"The final plans will be based on the response we get to that."

The Barbican was put up for sale last year after councillors admitted they could not afford to continue funding swimming on the site.

Subsidies of £660,000 a year were currently paid by York's taxpayers.

But bidders were told their plans must include a public swimming pool and auditorium.

Mr Croft said consultation was due to start in December.

Updated: 11:47 Thursday, November 07, 2002