A FORMER school site earmarked for a controversial new homeless centre should instead be transformed into a centre which tackles the causes of crime, protesters say.

A youth and community innovations centre would be a "far more appropriate and effective use" of the old Shipton Street school, said Grosvenor Terrace Residents' Association (GTRA), as the campaign to stop a proposed new Arc Light Centre stepped up another gear.

In a report to City of York Council chief executive David Atkinson, chairman Barney Skrentny said: "it is really just too horrendous to contemplate that an establishment such as Arc Light would move into the area".

Mr Skrentny was talking about Clifton's problems with nightly noise, disturbance and anti-social behaviour as one of the main pointers why the school would not be a suitable premises for the 24-hour centre to help the city's homeless.

The report reveals the association is "actively preparing a draft planning application for a change of use of the Shipton Road school site to youth and community innovations centre".

On Monday, residents attending a meeting at Clifton Residents' Association set up a "task force" to fight Arc Light's plans. They claim the school is the wrong place for the centre, and more than 2,000 people have signed up to a petition protesting against the scheme.

Arc Light is holding an open day at St Luke's Church, on August 16, from 4.30pm, to give residents more information about its plans.

But the Grosvenor Terrace Residents' report said: "We see no good reason why the Arc Light centre should not continue to develop its services on the present Leeman Road site."

A youth and community centre would help have a positive impact on the local area and is a venture residents would "contribute our time and resources to", the report adds.

It concludes: "Exceptionally strong local opposition to the anticipated proposal is expected, and the political, social and educational implications of a relocation as indicated are considerable. "The GTRA strongly urges that any application to relocate the Arc Light Centre to the Shipton Road school is completely rejected."

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, August 03, 2005