PLANS to re-create York's historic Micklegate Bar in America's mid-west have been blocked by the local authority, following harsh criticism from some residents.

York County commissioners voted 4-0 to pull the plug on the 350,000 dollar scheme to construct the "Yorktown Castle" on the courthouse lawn in York, Nebraska.

But radio station owner Mark Jensen, who had wanted the two-and-half-storey structure and stage to serve as an entertainment venue and scenic attraction, says he still had not given up on the idea altogether.

He told the Evening Press he might try to build the replica in a local park instead.

The proposals had sparked a flurry of protest letters to one newspaper in the town, with one reader, Denise Hicks Leinen, claiming: "This town does not need to have an aesthetically-challenged monstrosity sitting right next to the ugliest courthouse in Nebraska."

County Board chairman Dale Euchner and fellow commissioners praised Jensen for his energy and initiative, but said the project raised too many "red flags," including insurance liability, litter control and the possibility that the site might eventually be needed for a jail expansion.

"I think it places the board in somewhat uncharted waters, and in an area where we don't have the support of the public right now," Mr Euchner said.

Commissioner Eugene Bergen said he shared many people's reservations about the siting of the castle on the courthouse lawn.

"It was the location that got me," he said.

Mr Jensen said afterwards that the tone of some of the criticism had struck him as a bit harsh.

"Plenty of those people out there have no other way to express themselves other than anger," he said.

"Too many took it personally, I think. I just wish they could have held back some of their punches."

He said he still liked the castle idea, with constructive criticism duly noted, and planned to look at trying to site it in a town park.

He also said he would like to see York in Nebraska, which has a population of 8,000, becoming a "sister city" to York in England. He said he had raised this suggestion with the Mayor of York, Greg Adams, who had liked the idea of an honorary "Sister City Proclamation" being made.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Greenwood, said today she was sure the city would welcome informal links with York, Nebraska.

"This could be beneficial in opening a number of opportunities not only within tourism, but also for schools and local communities to establish a liaison with their counterparts in York, Nebraska," she said.

Updated: 09:26 Thursday, October 20, 2005