MANY European, cities including the likes of Seville, Salzberg, Bruges and Bath, have a certain quality about them; a certain class.

They are cities which are ‘old’, but can be quite relaxed about it. They are satisfied about their constancy; content in their unchanging state; proud to appear as they always have.

And as such, they have gained a reputation around the world as places which have that certain ambience, that certain atmosphere about them. They are places to visit, places where one “must have been”.

York is not one of these. York is a confused, schizophrenic city that is unsure whether it can keep faith with its historic past or must be constantly changing to attract people. The construction of an observation wheel will, without doubt, attract people to the city.

However, I am certain that there are many more people around this big wide world of ours who will forgo the opportunity to visit a city which would lower itself to construct such a thing in its historic heart; an act symptomatic of a cheap, grubby, money-grabbing little city that will do anything to attract the tourist buck.

Mr G Sunman, Halladale Close, Woodthorpe, York.


• AS THE debate over a site for the Yorkshire Wheel grinds on, it might be time to reconsider the first proposal put forward by the operating company.

The North Street gardens would be ideal for this feature.

Situated on the west bank of the river and nicely detached from the major concentrations of historical interest, it would form an amusing correlation with its bigger brother in London and provide a welcome highlight to what is still largely a ‘backside’ section of the river between Ouse and Lendal Bridges, but which, equally, could not be more central to take advantage of the spectacular views of the city.

An appropriate counterpoint to the bar terraces expanding along the opposite bank, it would draw tourists to an area of town not normally frequented by visitors, and also provide additional interest for boat trippers.

As for any detrimental effect on its environs, there could surely be none. All Saints Church has already lost its setting, sandwiched as it is between the Park Hotel and the Aviva offices.

York should have its Wheel. The currently debated location within the abbey walls and as a backdrop to York Art Gallery and King’s Manor is glaringly wrong.

Richard Carr, Station Road, Upper Poppleton, York.


• I CAN’T believe the uproar that has been created about the siting of the Wheel, when it is only going to be there for two years.

The picture of Stonebow in 1963 without that monstrosity of a building called Stonebow House (shown in The Press last week) was a joy to see and remember.

This building has been blotting the landscape for nearly 50 years and will do for many more. Where were the Minster, the civic trust, the York Georgian Society, etc, when we needed their support then?

By the way, why can’t the Wheel go back to the NRM?

S Brown.

Dunnington, York.


• ALL THIS controversy about where to site a gigantic Ferris wheel in York.

Whatever was wrong with its original site? There must have been a proper base for it, plus easy car parking nearby. We were always being told how successful an attraction it was, so why the big debate? Just put it back where it was.

Could this be just another reason for us not to go into the city for which we pay huge taxes?

Janet S Kitchen-Cooper, Ashley Park Road, York.


• READERS’ letters and your leader column have stated that the London Eye is close to the Houses of Parliament. Actually it is more than a quarter of a mile between the two, and on the other side of the Thames. How about no Wheel within the city walls?

PJ Kissane, Hamilton Drive, York.


• OBSERVATION wheels, being an extension of the fairground Ferris wheel, are viewed by some as being a bit naff when revolving among a city’s historic buildings.

When situated at the NRM, the Wheel could hardly be said to be out of sight, but it wasn’t in your face.

The newly proposed location and running until 10pm should go down well with the lads and lasses on the evening pub run.

However, there could be a potential problem. After queuing for some while to get on, then two slow observation revolutions and an equally slow disembarkment revolution, could there be a possibility the viewing compartments could become ‘pee pods’?

KA Roworth, Reighton Avenue, York.


• I THINK the Wheel should be forgotten about altogether as the way things are going in this country, thousands of jobs lost, a few hundred jobs created.

The only people who will be able to afford a holiday will be wealthy politicians, bankers, footballers and so-called celebrities who get obscene amounts of money.

One day, hopefully, we will get a government that will truly have empathy for the working man and woman who do the real jobs – nurses, doctors, bin men, shop workers etc, without whom this country would be in dire straits.

Until then, we will have to put up with a bunch of privileged overgrown schoolboys with no experience at all in governing the country and people will continue to lose their jobs and have no money to ride on the Wheel.

Mrs M Robinson, Broadway, York.