A RIVERSIDE conservation watchdog is opposing the plans for a 54-metre observation wheel in York's Tower Gardens.

But the Friends Of New Walk says it would offer its support if the wheel was located instead in St George's Field car park, on the other side of Skeldergate Bridge.

The conservation organisation was founded in 2000 to ensure that the New Walk riverside footpath, which runs from the Millennium Bridge to beyond the Tower Gardens, was appropriately maintained for leisure use.

It has produced a trail leaflet for visitors and will be promoting its use for sports days this summer.

The watchdog, which has 95 households as members, has now written to City of York Council to speak out against the proposals to site a big wheel for 11 months in Tower Gardens. The group says the wheel would have an "unacceptable impact" on residents in Tower Place and Friars Terrace because of long operating hours - from 9am to 11pm, seven days a week - and noisy generators, lighting and crowds.

The group says there will also be loss of privacy because occupants of the observation wheel pods would look directly into local homes. It also claims: "Tower Gardens is not large enough to accommodate the increased pedestrian traffic and queuing.

"Access for two cranes and 24 lorries over 15 days for constructing and dismantling will cause unacceptable disruption to road users, as the site has difficult access and, although this is not set out in the application, road closures must be the answer."

The group also claims that two conifers and a poplar tree would have to be felled to make way for the wheel, with a mature copper beech also at risk of damage. But, it adds, it would support the wheel if it was located in St George's Field car park "as this would alleviate our objections".

A council spokesman said that such comments would be reported to councillors, who were expected to consider the proposals at a city centre planning committee meeting on March 3 chaired by Coun Brian Watson.

A spokesman for World Tourist Attractions, which wants to build the wheel, was unavailable for comment.

Updated: 09:01 Wednesday, February 23, 2005