THE news that a new "superclub" with enough space for 1,750 revellers is being planned for the centre of York got a mixed response today.

The Evening Press revealed on Saturday that the owners of Nexus on George Hudson Street want to treble its capacity by expanding into the old Presto supermarket next door.

This would make it the largest such venue in York - Toffs on Toft Green which holds 860 people, is presently the biggest club. Nexus's current capacity is 600.

Club manager Peter Brownsword said the redevelopment would enable people to linger longer rather than queuing outside as it would feature a 200-capacity arrivals and departures "chill-out" lounge.

There would also be a new dance and entertainment club room.

Nexus lies just off the "Micklegate Run" - so called because of the hundreds of revelers who trawl the pubs every weekend - and is also within a special licensing zone, where extensions to licensed premises or their hours of opening are subject to stringent consideration because of the volume of disorder in the general area.

The Nexus proposal could trigger a new late night bus service - an idea backed by York bus firm First.

But Micklegate resident the Venerable Richard Seed, who is the Archdeacon of York, suggested such a large venue would be better suited to an out-of-town location.

He said: "My anxiety about something like this is the effect it would have on this side of town. I am not a spoilsport - my four kids are nightclub goers.

"But Micklegate already has a lot of pubs and nightclubs and we do have trouble in the early hours of the morning from time to time."

He said adequate safeguards would have to be in place to deal with any problems that arose.

"It would be good if there was no long queue outside," he said. "I would be anxious that any development of this sort would not adversely effect this side of town for those of us who live here and that the Micklegate area itself doesn't just become an almost over-egged pub and nightclub area.

"This is a lovely part of town. I wonder if a nightclub of that size would be better out of town."

York MP Hugh Bayley said: "The club would have to convince the council that it could deal with much larger numbers without people waiting to get in, spilling out on to the pavement or causing trouble after they leave.

"The Government has given councils responsibility for taking these licensing decisions in order to increase accountability to the local community.

"I am sure the council will listen to what local residents have to say."

Updated: 11:22 Monday, February 20, 2006