CITY leaders have been warned there is no turning back now as plans for the third stage of the WestQuay development get into full swing.

Even the slightest hesitation at this stage will send a clear signal to developers that Southampton is not fully committed to the multi-million pound project, politicians heard.

The stark warning from council officers came as councillors finally agreed where to put the new multi-purpose development, set to house a conference centre and a 2,500 capacity Olympic ice rink which would double as a 4,000 strong concert venue.

After much debate, the majority of decision-makers at the Guildhall agreed the new complex will definitely go into the western end of WestQuay, near Harbour Road.

It has been claimed that the site will not be close enough to the city centre to draw in potential developers, and some councillors still have reservations.

They would rather see it built in the central part of the site, near the hugely-successful WestQuay shopping centre.

But that area was last night firmly earmarked for a swish City Plaza, while the eastern end will be held for new shops. And Labour politicians showed no signs of changing that plan.

Labour's Paul Jenks said: "At the end of the day the western end of WestQuay is as good a site as any of the others. I can't see that building it there would in any way dilute the appeal of what is built."

But Tory John Hannides remains unconvinced. He argued that unless developers were offered the prime site at WestQuay, they could be reluctant to invest. He said: "We have basically got three options here. The one we have recommended, at the western side, is the least attractive site. I would like to see all three areas - west, east and central - market tested. Otherwise we risk handicapping the whole thing."

But the majority of councillors agreed on the western site, and gave the go-ahead for more detailed plans to be drawn up.