"WE ARE the minority in this case - not a right-wing force, just a family trying to survive."

These were the words of Rick Troughear, owner of the Moat Bed and Breakfast, in Nunnery Lane, York.

He was responding to council leader Steve Galloway's stark message to communities protesting over the new Arc Light premises, as reported in The Press last Saturday.

Mr Troughear handed in an objection letter and petition to City of York Council officials earlier this week, protesting against the proposed siting of the new homeless centre in the Nunnery Lane car park - on the hotelier's "boundary wall".

In his letter, Mr Troughear hit back after Coun Galloway said he would "stand up against the forces that seek to demonise minorities", stressing that siting the Arc Light centre in Nunnery Lane would "jeopardise my family's livelihood".

The hotelier said he had visited Arc Light's current Leeman Road home and he "fully appreciated and admired their work and principles."

He said: "The majority of people we rely on for passing trade - who are uninitiated into the good work of Arc Light - will have a prejudice and fear, and will possibly feel threatened by staying overnight in what they feel is a dodgy area."

Mr Troughear raised two petitions - one from residents, and one from local businesses. The two contained nearly 500 signatures, collected in less than a fortnight.

He said: "We haven't had a lot of time, but this was just an effort to get the feeling across that the centre will have a big impact in this small area, and people don't want it here. The response was quite good considering the time we had, and that we did it over Easter. I got another 30 signatures back after the deadline for objections had passed."

The Nunnery Lane car park is one of four proposed sites for the centre, also including the Marygate and Union Terrace car parks, and the former Reynard's Garage, in Piccadilly.

Last week, The Press reported the May 2 council executive meeting where the final decision on a site will be made, will be ticket-only.

Coun Galloway said the arrangements would ensure each of the interested parties had at least some guaranteed seats in the 60-capacity council gallery.

But Mr Troughear branded the plans "shocking", and said such an important meeting should be held in a bigger hall if more than 60 people wished to attend.

Updated: 09:48 Thursday, April 27, 2006