Agenda item

This report asks the Executive to consider a proposal to site the Yorkshire Wheel in North Street Gardens.

RESOLVED: (i)         That an agreement not be entered into with WTA to site the observation wheel in North Street Gardens.

                        (ii)        That the Executive reasserts its previous position that attractions of this sort are welcome in the City but need to be sited sensitively and without either prejudicing existing amenity provision or threatening the City’s visual heritage.

REASON:      This location is not considered suitable for the development, due to the potential damage to the historic environment, the limited size of the site and concerns about flooding and accessibility.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to consider, as part of the City Centre Local Development Framework build process, what guidance might be offered to developers who request  acceptable options for siting substantial structures of this type and / or other major leisure / visitor attractions.

REASON:      To ensure a fair and consistent approach.

                        (iv)       That Officers facilitate meetings to progress a new permanent visitor attraction to the City.

REASON:      So that potential attractions that may benefit the City can be properly considered and consulted on.

Members considered a report which presented a proposal to site a new observation wheel - the ‘Yorkshire Wheel’ - in North Street Gardens.

The operators, World Tourist Attractions Ltd. (WTA) had previously worked in partnership with the National Railway Museum (NRM) to operate an observation wheel on the NRM site.  Although successful, WTA had decided to re-locate for commercial reasons and now required a city centre site for a new wheel, in order to provide the views required for an exciting visitor experience.  Other sites in the city centre had already been considered and ruled out and WTA believed that North Street Gardens was the only remaining viable site for the wheel, which would be purpose built for York and similar to wheels installed by WTA in Windsor, Greenwich and Belfast.  Photographs showing wheels in other locations were annexed to the report, together with photographs and plans of the proposed site and a preliminary landscape assessment of North Street Gardens.

Members were invited to comment on WTA’s proposal, with particular regard to whether the Yorkshire Wheel would fit in with the City’s leisure policy, promote the visitor economy and enhance the leisure amenity of North Street Gardens as a public open space.

Members debated the matter and noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, the comments made under Public Participation and the contents of the letters and e-mails circulated before the meeting.

Cllr Steve Galloway then proposed a set of recommendations based upon the rejection of WTA’s proposal.  Cllr Vassie then put forward an alternative recommendation, namely that the WTA’s proposal be accepted.  On being put to the vote, Cllr Vassie’s recommendation was declared LOST.  Cllr Galloway’s recommendations were then put to the vote and declared CARRIED and it was therefore

RESOLVED: (i)         That an agreement not be entered into with WTA to site the observation wheel in North Street Gardens.

                        (ii)        That the Executive reasserts its previous position that attractions of this sort are welcome in the City but need to be sited sensitively and without either prejudicing existing amenity provision or threatening the City’s visual heritage.

REASON:      This location is not considered suitable for the development, due to the potential damage to the historic environment, the limited size of the site and concerns about flooding and accessibility.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested to consider, as part of the City Centre Local Development Framework build process, what guidance might be offered to developers who request  acceptable options for siting substantial structures of this type and / or other major leisure / visitor attractions.¹

REASON:      To ensure a fair and consistent approach.

                        (iv)       That Officers facilitate meetings to progress a new permanent visitor attraction to the City.²

REASON:      So that potential attractions that may benefit the City can be properly considered and consulted on.

Note: Cllrs Moore and Reid withdrew from the room during consideration of the above item and during the relevant part of the Public Participation item, as indicated under ‘Declarations of Interest’.