DEVELOPERS have shot down the idea of putting a big wheel on York’s Hungate site.

The firm behind the redevelopment of the land, east of the city centre, said such an attraction would be unsuitable there.

Ian Gillies, leader of York Conservatives and a direct of the tourism body Visit York, had called yesterday for a wheel to be put on the large brownfield site.

But Phil Darcy, director of Hungate Regeneration Ltd, said: “While we wish the council and the operators of the York Wheel success in finding an alternative location for the wheel, we do not think the Hungate site would be suitable, because residents will be moving into the first phase of 162 houses and apartments at Hungate this summer.

“Hungate already provides useful support for the city’s range of visitor attractions with Dig Hungate, the archaeological area on the site, which is open to the public and has attracted more than 11,000 visitors since it opened in 2007.”

World Tourist Attractions, which previously ran a wheel at the National Railway Museum, had hoped to site a replacement in North Street gardens, but City of York Council ruled out the move on Tuesday. The council owns the gardens, and said a wheel would be inappropriate in such a historic setting, and near important flood defences.