DRAMATIC ideas for transforming open spaces and historic buildings around York Minster have been unveiled.

Suggestions for Dean’s Park include a formal garden, a children’s play and learning area, cafe and toilets, and an exhibition gallery and events space, along with direct access into the park from the Bar Walls.

Duncombe Place could see measures to restrict traffic access, and a new ticket office and welcome centre could be created away from the cathedral, removing queues from the west front.

A new public exit from the Minster may be opened up through an old door on the north side, giving direct access into Dean’s Park, and St William’s College could be restored to use as offices for Minster staff and Minster Police, a conference centre and a restaurant "spilling out onto College Green".

The ideas were put forward at a public exhibition which opened yesterday in a marquee in Dean’s Park, with officials appealing for the public’s views before they draft up a new masterplan for the Minster precinct.

Consultation boards said Duncombe Place and College Green could have "an emphasis on creating space for people not cars", and security measures, such as the anti-vehicle blocks outside the west front, could be integrated with the design.

Director of works Alex McCallion said Duncombe Place could not be fully pedestrianised because access was required to some buildings but traffic could be controlled and more space created for pedestrians, and the security blocks could be moved back and away from the front of the cathedral.

Other ideas also include:

*Relocating St William’s Tomb inside the Minster to a more prominent location for pilgrimage.

*Moving office staff out of Church House, which could become a residential development - generating income to support cathedral restoration work.

*Re-routing Deangate, which runs through the middle of the Minster School site, with the Minster "exploring opportunities to reorganise access and re-define the school’s boundary together with the Stoneyard to create a more cohesive site".

Mr McCallion stressed that he wanted to know visitors, residents, worshippers and businesses’ thoughts. The exhibition is open today from 11am until 7pm, and the boards can also be viewed in the Minster’s South Transept tomorrow. People can also give their views by going to masterplanning.yorkminster.org.

Initial reaction from visitors to the marquee yesterday was generally positive. Tom Franklin, York Green Party chair, said: “I think there are some really interesting and exciting ideas.”

Philip Crowe, vice chair of York Environment Forum, said he was generally "very pleased" but had reservations about the ideas for Dean’s Park, which he felt was a welcome quiet space in a city which was overcrowded at peak times.