CITY centre businesses want to bring new and improved street signs into York, and have got £18,000 of council money to help fund the project.

The Business Improvement District (BID) is working on a new “wayfinding” scheme - to improve the signs which help visitors find their way around York’s attractions.

Earlier this month a senior council executive agreed to put £18,000 towards the project, meaning City of York Council and the BID are splitting the cost of a trial 50-50.

Andrew Lowson, the BID’s executive director, said: “The York BID has a mandate to improve signage and wayfinding in the city. This will be good for visitors as it will benefit their experience and help them navigate to where they want to go and good for businesses that will benefit from spend.

“We have taken learning from other historic cities in the UK and will look to incorporate this into a trial which will take place later this year.”

In funding documents the BID prepared for the council, officials from the BID and a firm of specialist consultants said new wayfinding signs would be a significant improvement in the city centre, would encourage people to walk and thus improve health and would have commercial benefits by encouraging people to explore other areas.

“In this way, the scheme will have a significant and positive impact on the future of York as one of the most exciting and enjoyable cities in the UK to visit,” the report added.

Now the funding is in place BID staff are planning to install three or four prototype signs later in the summer, as a trial in a small part of the city.

If the full project then goes ahead more funding will have to be found, the documents add.