Hundreds object to proposed location of new big wheel in York (From York Press)
Get in touch: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting YORK to 80360 or send an email»
Hundreds object to World Tourist Attractions' big wheel plans for St George’s Field car park in York
10:30am Friday 10th July 2009 in News
Hundreds object to proposed location of new big wheel in York
YORK’S big wheel may have turned for the last time, after police, environmental officials and hundreds of residents objected to the latest proposal.
North Yorkshire Police said a big wheel in St George’s Field car park would distract motorists, leading to accidents on the inner ring road.
The force is among more than 225 objectors to a planning application by World Tourist Attractions (WTA), which wants to put a 60-metre structure in the car park for three months.
It follows the removal of a similar one at the National Railway Museum (NRM) last November, and the rejection of a planned replacement in North Street Gardens, beside the Park Inn Hotel.
By yesterday, City of York Council had received objections from 226 residents, including block objections from the companies that manage the flats at Postern Close and Clementhorpe.
Yorkshire and Humberside MEP Godfrey Bloom has also objected, saying he has been contacted by anxious constituents, while Steve Burrell, of the police traffic management department at Fulford Road in York, said the wheel would be a traffic hazard.
Police voiced similar concerns at the previous sites, but said it would be a particular problem at St George’s Field.
“The wheel will distract drivers using a busy section of road with stop-start traffic,” said a spokesman. “This distraction would create a traffic danger with rear-end shunts being a very real possibility.”
He said this was not an issue when the wheel was at the NRM, as traffic was more free-flowing.
City of York Council’s own environment, conservation and flooding experts have also called for the idea to be shelved. The riverside car park is on a flood plain, and has been under water on 98 days in the past decade.
Mike Taverner, the council’s structure and drainage project manager, said any development in that area should be water-related, such as boatyards.
He said: “I cannot support this application, as it contravenes the council’s policy document.”
Environment and conservation officials said the wheel should be moved to protect a nearby hedge.
Among the residents who objected were Hilary and Gordon Jones. In a written objection, they wrote: “The huge scale of this wheel is totally inappropriate to this central and historic area. The huge and unsightly structure would destroy the privacy of residents and the River Ouse would become a second Blackpool.”
Some said funfairs in the car park caused distress and said the wheel would cause similar problems.
Another local resident, Ian Wolstencroft, said: “How can the council as a whole be serious about the possibility of York becoming a World Heritage Site and yet even consider the siting of such an inappropriate development within the city?”
York Civic Trust said it was happy for the wheel to go in the car park for three months, but said the car park had the status of a village green, meaning permanent structures were not allowed.
WTA declined to comment on the objections when contacted by The Press yesterday.
Comments(51)
Soothsayer17
says...
11:14am Fri 10 Jul 09
wish-fish
oldgoat
says...
11:18am Fri 10 Jul 09
Soothsayer17 wrote:But where? Anywhere tacky enough would have nothing to look at from it.
Take it somewhere that would befit something so tacky.
wish-fish
Blackpool springs to mind, but who wants to go round in circles staring at the tower?
razor08
says...
11:19am Fri 10 Jul 09
alimount
says...
11:24am Fri 10 Jul 09
York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods.
Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)
Mullarkian
says...
11:25am Fri 10 Jul 09
AdmiralNN
says...
11:41am Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
11:52am Fri 10 Jul 09
alimount wrote:Oh yeah, that would look great next to a 13th century ancient monument wouldn't it? And Clifford's Tower would make a fortune from visitors going up the tower to take in the views. NOT!
Move on WTA. It's clear the people of York don't want it, stick two fingers up and take the custom elsewhere.
York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods.
Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)
Really thought that one through didn't you?
Keep your useless comments in Chester and leave York to the people of York!
topumpire1
says...
12:01pm Fri 10 Jul 09
PUT it back at NRM!!
If the company (WTA) wants a wheel in York (& they seem to) then make them put it where WE & everyone wants it! The NRM IS and WAS the best site. FULL STOP!!
Always was, always will be, so WHY is the council even letting them look elsewhere? If WTA have a committement to York, then MAKE them go back to the NRM, HOWEVER much it will cost them to get in inagain, it should never have left!!
Soothsayer17
says...
12:04pm Fri 10 Jul 09
oldgoat wrote:I suppose you could go up the tower and look at the wheel...?
Soothsayer17 wrote: Take it somewhere that would befit something so tacky. wish-fishBut where? Anywhere tacky enough would have nothing to look at from it. Blackpool springs to mind, but who wants to go round in circles staring at the tower?
I happen to think Blackpool would be perfect for it funnily enough - the wheel just "isn't York" which may sound snobby but we are one of the most amazing medieval centres in the world and shouldn't be afraid to look beyond an attraction simply bringing in a few extra visitors.
tonezzzznoddedoff
says...
12:28pm Fri 10 Jul 09
alimount
says...
12:37pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed wrote:Haha yeah suppose the judge in court 1 wouldn't be too happy about people peering in through the glass roof.
alimount wrote:Oh yeah, that would look great next to a 13th century ancient monument wouldn't it? And Clifford's Tower would make a fortune from visitors going up the tower to take in the views. NOT!
Move on WTA. It's clear the people of York don't want it, stick two fingers up and take the custom elsewhere.
York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods.
Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)
Really thought that one through didn't you?
Keep your useless comments in Chester and leave York to the people of York!
Alright, how about Parliament street? Would be a great view and could only do the businesses and market stalls along there good. Not so good for the fair and foreign markets tho. Can't be too many residents in that area as well.
LittleTed
says...
12:42pm Fri 10 Jul 09
alimount wrote:I'm glad you see my point. To be honest I agree with a lot of people on here (makes a change) that it should return to the NRM, or just go away. We don't need it.
LittleTed wrote:Haha yeah suppose the judge in court 1 wouldn't be too happy about people peering in through the glass roof.
alimount wrote:Oh yeah, that would look great next to a 13th century ancient monument wouldn't it? And Clifford's Tower would make a fortune from visitors going up the tower to take in the views. NOT!
Move on WTA. It's clear the people of York don't want it, stick two fingers up and take the custom elsewhere.
York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods.
Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)
Really thought that one through didn't you?
Keep your useless comments in Chester and leave York to the people of York!
Alright, how about Parliament street? Would be a great view and could only do the businesses and market stalls along there good. Not so good for the fair and foreign markets tho. Can't be too many residents in that area as well.
invisibleman
says...
12:44pm Fri 10 Jul 09
tonezzzznoddedoff wrote:Not at all, in fact it offers great views. But the London eye is by the Thames and not in the centre of Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace gardens or on Oxford street.In this economic climate we should be attracting as many tourists as possible, but if things are not done right or we have the wrong style of attractions in a medievel city it will turn the tourists away.
The London Eye hasent done Lonon any harm has it?
alimount
says...
12:45pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed wrote:Trees would be an issue too, sure there would be a few groups unhappy about losing them.
alimount wrote:I'm glad you see my point. To be honest I agree with a lot of people on here (makes a change) that it should return to the NRM, or just go away. We don't need it.
LittleTed wrote:Haha yeah suppose the judge in court 1 wouldn't be too happy about people peering in through the glass roof.
alimount wrote:Oh yeah, that would look great next to a 13th century ancient monument wouldn't it? And Clifford's Tower would make a fortune from visitors going up the tower to take in the views. NOT!
Move on WTA. It's clear the people of York don't want it, stick two fingers up and take the custom elsewhere.
York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods.
Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)
Really thought that one through didn't you?
Keep your useless comments in Chester and leave York to the people of York!
Alright, how about Parliament street? Would be a great view and could only do the businesses and market stalls along there good. Not so good for the fair and foreign markets tho. Can't be too many residents in that area as well.
Yeah NRM was ideal for everyone.
Jassy
says...
12:51pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
12:53pm Fri 10 Jul 09
WTA, BYE BYE!
xmob
says...
1:54pm Fri 10 Jul 09
BigJon
says...
1:54pm Fri 10 Jul 09
invisibleman wrote:In actual fact WTA are putting a wheel into Hyde Park if you check their website.
tonezzzznoddedoff wrote: The London Eye hasent done Lonon any harm has it?Not at all, in fact it offers great views. But the London eye is by the Thames and not in the centre of Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace gardens or on Oxford street.In this economic climate we should be attracting as many tourists as possible, but if things are not done right or we have the wrong style of attractions in a medievel city it will turn the tourists away.
I agree though that if the wheel is to return then it should return to the NRM....or Parliament Street, maybe to replace the 'Splash Palace'
LizM
says...
2:28pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Tourists have a finite amount of money and time when they visit, so yes, the wheel would attract visitors, but this revenue and visitor numbers would be at the expense of other, more appropriate, attractions
Kiff
says...
2:28pm Fri 10 Jul 09
(I know dreadful pun)
The nice thing about the NRM is that it attracts tourists - they very people who might want to go on the wheel.
tonezzzznoddedoff
says...
2:54pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Ousetunes
says...
3:02pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Everyone knows that York doesn't need a silly Big Wheel, it needs a rollercoaster and I reckon it should be built in Museum Gardens and stretch over the Minster before returning via the Bar Walls right over to Nunnery Lane before returning via a special tunnel under the Ouse near Lendal Bridge.
Wake up and smell the coffee people. You've still got the Viking Centre if tourists want to see what Olde Yorke looked like.
Oh, and like The Big One in Blackpool, I'd call the York roller-coaster the "Sentamu Sensation".
Brilliant eh?
alimount
says...
3:08pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Ousetunes wrote:Brilliant, but I'd prefer a log flume.
Gosh, what a bunch of moaners.
Everyone knows that York doesn't need a silly Big Wheel, it needs a rollercoaster and I reckon it should be built in Museum Gardens and stretch over the Minster before returning via the Bar Walls right over to Nunnery Lane before returning via a special tunnel under the Ouse near Lendal Bridge.
Wake up and smell the coffee people. You've still got the Viking Centre if tourists want to see what Olde Yorke looked like.
Oh, and like The Big One in Blackpool, I'd call the York roller-coaster the "Sentamu Sensation".
Brilliant eh?
the andrew
says...
3:15pm Fri 10 Jul 09
tonezzzznoddedoff
says...
3:32pm Fri 10 Jul 09
tonezzzznoddedoff
says...
3:32pm Fri 10 Jul 09
bri
says...
4:53pm Fri 10 Jul 09
old_geezer
says...
5:03pm Fri 10 Jul 09
on.com.
Goes higher than a wheel, hence better views.
the butler
says...
5:27pm Fri 10 Jul 09
again
says...
6:20pm Fri 10 Jul 09
tonezzzznoddedoff wrote:Are we talking about London? The 2 places are completely different, I went to London once (that was enough) and it was plain to see.
The London Eye hasent done Lonon any harm has it?
LittleTed
says...
6:26pm Fri 10 Jul 09
again wrote:Well said. York is not London!
tonezzzznoddedoff wrote:Are we talking about London? The 2 places are completely different, I went to London once (that was enough) and it was plain to see.
The London Eye hasent done Lonon any harm has it?
There is a very VERY BIG difference.
cheekyelf
says...
7:32pm Fri 10 Jul 09
* the application is for a 50m wheel not 60m wheel
* the artist impression (beside being aweful) is not according to the plans
* there are less than 60 single objection comments made to the application by residents
Is this journalism? Or persuing a political agenda?
H8r
says...
7:39pm Fri 10 Jul 09
The Wheel should be in the middle of the Ouse between Ouse and Lendal Bridges. The capsules would go under water so people can see shopping trollies and various other debris at the bottom of the river.
Bishlad
says...
8:37pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
8:47pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Bishlad wrote:I repeat.......
Usual nonsense being written. The truth of the matter is that the wheel left the NRM because of falling revenue. It had nothing at all to do with the Council or any "Red Tape" Remember tourism creates some 11,000 jobs and brings into the York economy about £80 million. So get with it we need the wheel it will bring in money and create jobs allbeit for only three or four years then I suspect it will go.
WTA saw that York was and is still becoming a major tourist attraction "in it's own right". They didn't want to "add" anything to York, they wanted to take something away, MONEY.
Get With It!
Newlandslad
says...
9:25pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
9:39pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Newlandslad wrote:Another you say. What were/was the other/s?
This is looking as though it will become another lost opportunity. A tourist attraction potentially lost in these difficult times - what a mistake!
humpty numpty
says...
9:48pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
10:03pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Wrong again I'm afraid!
I am employed in the tourist industry. It pays for my mortgage etc etc etc......
So stuff that in your shell like and smoke it!
LittleTed
says...
10:06pm Fri 10 Jul 09
"rate of 3 toed sloth on tranquillisers"
Class!
LittleTed
says...
10:10pm Fri 10 Jul 09
Less of the "HE" if you don't mind.
humpty numpty
says...
11:01pm Fri 10 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
11:38pm Fri 10 Jul 09
humpty numpty wrote:Like it,like it.
little ted, old shufflers have already turned york into a theme park, welcome to "medieval world"? cannot build/do anything without some group/body/self appointed champion complianing. love to accept the accolade for the sloth line but can't, plagerised i'm afraid (electric ink BBC4) but funny nevertheless. looks like your dancing has paid dividends, hope you havn't tired yourself out!!! Press saturday front page headline "south bank flooded after 3 months rainfall in 2 hours, 200 homes evacuated - worse still, racing abandoned"
I don't get the dancing bit though. Please explain.
humpty numpty
says...
10:45am Sat 11 Jul 09
LittleTed
says...
12:03pm Sat 11 Jul 09
humpty numpty wrote:Oh yeah!
you were doing a rain dance for magnet cup day - however looking out the window this morning its beautiful sunshine!
I decided against it as I'm going to the races today. Hic!
York1900
says...
12:53pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Jassy wrote:Yes there are empty plots but we do not want this pile of junk there either
Is there an empty plot in Hungate?
we have just kicked the councils butt about wanting to build there HQ at Hungate
The best place for the World Tourist Attractions' big wheel is in the middle of the North sea
York1900
says...
1:09pm Sat 11 Jul 09
alimount wrote:Parliament street is a no go because of what is under Parliament street
LittleTed wrote:Haha yeah suppose the judge in court 1 wouldn't be too happy about people peering in through the glass roof. Alright, how about Parliament street? Would be a great view and could only do the businesses and market stalls along there good. Not so good for the fair and foreign markets tho. Can't be too many residents in that area as well.alimount wrote: Move on WTA. It's clear the people of York don't want it, stick two fingers up and take the custom elsewhere. York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods. Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)Oh yeah, that would look great next to a 13th century ancient monument wouldn't it? And Clifford's Tower would make a fortune from visitors going up the tower to take in the views. NOT! Really thought that one through didn't you? Keep your useless comments in Chester and leave York to the people of York!
LittleTed
says...
9:08pm Sat 11 Jul 09
Kiff
says...
1:19pm Mon 13 Jul 09
York1900 wrote:OK, I'm curious. What is under there?
alimount wrote:Parliament street is a no go because of what is under Parliament street
LittleTed wrote:Haha yeah suppose the judge in court 1 wouldn't be too happy about people peering in through the glass roof. Alright, how about Parliament street? Would be a great view and could only do the businesses and market stalls along there good. Not so good for the fair and foreign markets tho. Can't be too many residents in that area as well.alimount wrote: Move on WTA. It's clear the people of York don't want it, stick two fingers up and take the custom elsewhere. York residents will moan about anything that is modern, yet forget how vital the tourist industry is to their livelihoods. Why not put it in the field near the court, cliffords tower and York museum? No one could complain then. (probably)Oh yeah, that would look great next to a 13th century ancient monument wouldn't it? And Clifford's Tower would make a fortune from visitors going up the tower to take in the views. NOT! Really thought that one through didn't you? Keep your useless comments in Chester and leave York to the people of York!
LizM
says...
10:07am Tue 14 Jul 09
cheekyelf wrote:There seems to be some confusion over the height of the proposed wheel - the flood report posted on the CoYC planning site states 60m, so I assume this is correct.
Leaving alone the fact of whether or not the wheel is good or bad for York, I would like to make the following remarks about the YP article and their sources having looked at the application at the CYC website:
* the application is for a 50m wheel not 60m wheel
* the artist impression (beside being aweful) is not according to the plans
* there are less than 60 single objection comments made to the application by residents
Is this journalism? Or persuing a political agenda?
There would've been far more objections had the council sent planning notices to all of the local residents - I live very close to St George's Field and would be overlooked by the wheel but had no letter from the council and I know that this is the case for the majority of our neighbours. The yellow notices weren't put up until after the original closing date for objections etc. etc.
I submitted my objection at the first opportunity but this was after the required date so don't know if it's been counted in the 60 as quoted.
I therefore question where the political agenda is - is it really with this journalism or with certain parties' interests?
Expat says...
11:04am Fri 10 Jul 09