Proposals have emerged for a "second Eye of York"- with a multi-million pound state-of-the-art planetarium at its centre.

The Yorkshire Philosophical Society, former owner of the Museum Gardens, wants to incorporate them into a St Mary's Abbey Precinct stretching up to Bootham and taking in the city art gallery, the King's Manor and possibly the public library as well.

The new precinct could include a planetarium or 'space theatre' within the abbey walls on the corner of Bootham and Marygate and a virtual reality "monastic life" exhibition beneath Tempest Anderson Hall, transporting visitors back to the days when St Mary's Abbey was being built.

The society, which handed the gardens in trust to the city council in 1960, also wants to extend the Yorkshire Museum and city art gallery, refurbish the Hospitium and open up St Leonard's Hospital as a hi-tech visitor information centre.

It suggests the precinct could be managed by a trust including the council, the philosophical society, York University, the York Archaeological Trust and possible business partners.

A report outlining the proposals went to members of the city council's heritage and museum committees this month. A copy has been obtained by the Evening Press.

John Hampshire, the philosophical society's chairman, said today the 'Abbey precinct' was one of the most important heritage sites in York.

"There are 2,000 years of history there, from the Roman period through to the present day," he said. "But at the moment there is very little explanation and the casual visitor does not really appreciate that. There are all sorts of hidden gems.

"We feel it is about time local people were able to be aware of their heritage. At the moment, we've got the Eye of York with the Castle Museum. This could be the second Eye of York."

Mr Hampshire said the planetarium, which could be a 'space theatre' initiating local people and visitors alike into astronomy and space exploration, would build on York's astronomical tradition.

Coun Bob Scrase, chairman of the city council's leisure committee, said the proposals 'looked like an exciting project,' and were consistent with the council's ongoing leisure review.

Prof Ron Cooke, vice-chancellor of York University, said: "The St Mary's precinct is perhaps unique in having Grade I listed buildings from the Roman period to the 20th century within its boundary. It is a world-class site."

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