AMBITIOUS plans to transform York into a city of light have gathered momentum.

Council chiefs today revealed a list of historic buildings, squares, streets and riverside walks they plan to bathe in floodlights in an effort to boost tourism and make city streets safer.

The £654,000 York:Light project follows the lead of rival tourist cities like Barcelona, Helsinki, Lyon and Edinburgh.

The landmark sites include Bootham Bar, King's Manor, York Art Gallery, Lendal Bridge, the Guildhall and Fairfax House.

Officials also hope to create a new York Lighting Experience Walk by illuminating sites like Micklegate Bar, Shambles, York Minster towers from east and south, and the Merchant Adventurer's Hall. In a planning and transport committee report, Rory McCarthy, tourism development officer at City of York Council, says that the aim is to boost York's four million-plus annual visitor numbers.

He said: "Visitors' tastes and expectations are changing and there is keen competition from other UK and European destinations.

"York needs to take positive action to enhance the visitor's experience of the city if it is to retain and increase market share."

He said well-designed lighting had a successful track record in rival cities, and shining a light on the city's heritage after dark was a "sound investment" in York's future and would help to create jobs.

The report states that similar urban lighting schemes in Hull, Cardiff and Manchester led to informal surveillance of criminals and acted as a crime deterrent. Studies have also shown that improved lighting is more effective and economical than measures like CCTV.

Mr McCarthy saidd: "It will help to enrich the presentation of our unique heritage, provide a new tourism 'product' and boost the after-dark safety, prosperity and attractiveness of the city, for visitors and residents alike."

York:Light is a major plank of a £2 million investment package targeting the city's heritage and history. Development agency Yorkshire Forward has earmarked £900,000 towards the overall tourism project.

Council officials, working with the First Stop York Tourism Partnership, plan to unveil York:Light in two stages.

The first, up to March 2006, will see an intensive programme of "innovative and creative" lighting projects in the city centre, while a ten-year masterplan will oversee all aspects of long-term lighting in York. This includes a new lighting scheme for York Minster and funding ideas.

York:Light will be discussed by councillors on Thursday. Planning approval will be needed for 15 lighting projects before the end of this year to release funds.

Updated: 10:21 Monday, October 04, 2004