The opportunity to provide a world class youth facility in York for the city's young people looks to be in serious jeopardy after council officers yesterday said a bid for government cash might not now be made at all. After the first phase deadline was missed in September it was said that a bid would be made as part of the second final phase of funding for the government initiative. But even that looks unlikely following the latest bombshell from officers.

Labour's Children and Young People's Services spokesperson, Coun. Dave Merrett said:

"The Executive Member for Children and Young People's Services must take responsibility for the appalling mismanagement of this bid. 'My place' presents a huge opportunity for funding for an iconic young people's facility in the city and the council simply sits back and makes a successful bid almost impossible. All we hear are excuses as to why a bid cannot be submitted, not how we can make this happen.
"This opportunity must not be missed. The Lib Dem Executive Member and Deputy Leader of the Council needs to take personal responsibility to ensure we do get a bid in by March so as not to let the young people down who've been involved in looking for sites.

"Those young people have also been looking at what should be provided in the new space for all young people in the city with proposals for performance and sports facilities, chill out space, an IT and games suite, etc. York's young people do not deserve to be let down from this wonderful opportunity. It demonstrates to me how detached from the interests of young people the Lib Dems really are and I find that extremely sad".

"This must now be addressed as an urgent matter. The Lib Dems complain about a lack of government support but when it is presented on a plate they look set to turn it down through their own incompetence. This is not right at all".