PUBLIC consultation over the future of York's Barbican Centre could begin before Christmas, City of York Council revealed today.

Officers said they hoped to put a short-list of possible redevelopment schemes to councillors by the end of October, with the people of York subsequently being asked what they wanted to see happen to the top leisure venue.

The news came as centre operators Total Leisure Management claimed that uncertainty over the redevelopment scheme had failed to dent confidence in the Barbican by agents for major acts, with one of the best-ever programmes lined up for this autumn.

Big-name acts included comic Lee Evans, rock group Bad Company, David Essex, Status Quo, Soft Cell, Toploader, Sinead O'Connor and Level 42.

In addition, the sell-out of the Fast Show Live! had prompted a second date to be added, on October 30.

Barbican entertainments manager Dewi Lewis said that last month's ticket sales had been "excellent" - boosted by the record speed of sales for tickets to see comic Peter Kay, which had almost outstripped the pace of demand for Robbie Williams tickets in 1998.

The council is currently working with developers on ideas for the multi-million pound improvement scheme for the complex, situated just outside York's city walls.

The Evening Press recently reported that plans by Harrisons of Malton and the NEC Group for an international conference and exhibition centre had fallen through. It is understood that this left officers with three remaining contenders.

Charlie Croft, assistant director of education and leisure, said today that the authority would be trying to begin public consultation over the options by December.

The timescale after that was unclear, but it seemed that redevelopment work could not begin until 2004, because the UK Snooker Championship was booked for both this December and December 2003.

The first such championship last year was won by Ronnie O'Sullivan. This year's nine-day event begins on December 1, and will attract fans from all over the country as well as millions of TV viewers.

Updated: 14:11 Thursday, October 03, 2002