© National Railway Museum (NRM).
The National Railway Museum (NRM) has been given the go-ahead to host Yorkshire’s first giant wheel tourist attraction.
City of York planners gave the go-ahead on Thursday January 20 2006 for a London-eye style observation wheel soaring 60 metres (196 feet) above the city, and offering a 20-mile panorama.
Andrew Scott, Head of the National Railway Museum said: “It is a fantastic coup for the National Railway Museum and indeed for York, to host Yorkshire’s first giant observation wheel.”
Comprising 43 climate-controlled capsules for 8 people, the wheel would be the second tallest structure in York, standing just ten metres below York Minster’s famous Lantern Tower.
© National Railway Museum (NRM).
The Dean of York Minster, the very Reverend Keith Jones, has offered his backing to the scheme commenting: “The National Railway Museum is the perfect location for such a wheel and we are optimistic that it will draw many new visitors to York, which can only benefit the attractions that already exist.”
At 60 metres (196 feet) the wheel is not as large as the London Eye, which measures 135 metres (450 feet) but organisers say the view from it could potentially reach to the Vale of York.
Many of the region’s key businesses and visitor attractions have already welcomed the proposed new development, which the NRM believe could potentially bring up to a million new visitors to the city.
© National Railway Museum (NRM).
York-based train operator GNER has also thrown its weight behind the project. “We fully support the NRM’s plans to site a ‘Yorkshire Eye’ on land near the museum and the railway station," said Chief Operating Officer Jonathan Metcalfe. "This imaginative idea would provide an extra attraction to woo visitors to the fantastic city.”
Subject to contract details being finalised with the NRM’s partners in the venture, World Tourist Attractions, the wheel will be up and running by late spring 2006. Planning permission has been granted for three years of operation. It is believed that around 30 jobs will be created by the venture.
