YORK looks set to get a big wheel again after planning officials recommended it for approval, despite opposition from angry residents.

City of York councillors are being urged to approve the 53-metre observation wheel in the grounds of the Royal York Hotel, but only until January 2013.

Planning officials say the scheme is acceptable on this temporary basis but the “perception of being overlooked” by residents in Westgate apartments would be unacceptable on a long-term basis, as would the detrimental impact on the city’s character and appearance.

They say the position of the wheel has been revised since the application was submitted, to move it 14 metres further away from the apartments. Objections to the wheel received by City of York Council included one from Mr and Mrs Ivan Shaw, who claimed it would mean 1,000 people passing their bedroom and living room windows all day and into the night, seven days a week. “Whether you are a suppporter of the wheel or not, no one should have to put up with this sort of intrusion,” they said.

But Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York, spoke of the benefits to the city’s tourism economy. She said it would help to enhance York’s international profile and add a new dimension to the cityscape. The hotel gardens are just the latest potential site to be proposed by Great City Attractions Global for a wheel since one situated at the National Railway Museum closed down in November 2008. Attempts to locate it in North Street Gardens, St George’s Field car park and behind York Art Gallery have all been dashed following varying objections. A report to next week’s planning committee meeting by development management officer Jonathan Kenyon says a ministerial statement in March, dubbed Planning For Growth, was a material consideration for the authority.

“It establishes that the Government’s top priority in reforming the planning system is to promote sustainable economic growth and jobs,” he said.

“The Government’s clear expectation is that the answer to development and growth should, wherever possible, be ‘yes’, except where this would compromise the key sustainable development principles set out in national planning policy.”

The report says the council has received 27 objections, the majority about the way the wheel would overlook the Westgate apartments, which have living and bedroom windows looking toward it.

Protesters also claimed the wheel would be overdominant, an eyesore and out of character with the appearance of the conservation area and setting of the city walls. They also raised concerns about the potential for light and noise pollution, extra traffic on Leeman Road, illegal parking, distraction of motorists and the loss of the Minster as the dominant building on York’s skyline.

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End to a circular story – for now?

TALK about going round in circles. At times, it has seemed as if the search for a new site for York’s “big wheel” would never end.

Since the wheel left the National Railway Museum (NRM), operators have struggled in vain to find a suitable location.

First they wanted to put it next to the Park Inn in North Street – but this was vetoed on environmental grounds. Then they tried St George’s Field car park – but the Environment Agency objected because of possible floods.

Finally, this year, plans to site it in a little-used corner of Museum Gardens were scuppered because of bats.

All this was a great shame. The original wheel at the NRM was a huge hit, with locals and tourists alike. It offered fantastic views over the city, and yet another reason for people to come here. But it was beginning to look as though it would never return.

Never say never. Fresh plans were put forward to site the wheel at the Royal York Hotel. And while, this being York, some people objected, council planners look set to approve it.

On a temporary basis, at least. Planning officials accept people in the Westgate apartments might feel they are being overlooked. So they have recommended the wheel should stay only until January 2013.

That is just about right. The concerns of those living nearby must be taken into consideration. This may not be the right place for a permanent wheel. But on a temporary basis it is ideal. And who knows, neighbours might even find they become used to it.

In case they don’t, however, the search for an alternative site once the year at the Royal York is up had better start at once. If past history is anything to go by, it will take at least that long.

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