Internet wi-fi zone planned for city

The move will see York become one of only a handful of towns and cities in the UK to offer the perk, although many locations on the Continent have already introduced the technology.

A pilot scheme is being launched this autumn in St Helen’s Square and Coney Street to provide a free wireless connection for laptops, smart phones and other internet-enabled devices in the trial area.

If the pilot proves successful, free wi-fi access is due to be extended across the city centre area within York’s medieval walls. The Digital York scheme is part of York Council’s Reinvigorate York initiative - an ambitious project to improve and enhance the quality of the city’s public spaces.

The council’s leader, Coun James Alexander, claimed the wi-fi scheme is an “exciting, innovative and dynamic proposal”, and added: “Internet access is now an essential part of our everyday working and private lives.

“Some cities on the Continent provide free wi-fi access, but very few do in the UK. The Digital York scheme is part of a step change in the ambition we have for the city and we hope that the initial trial will be successful and provide a real boost to local businesses, visitors and shoppers.”

The project is aiming to improve the city centre facilities for visitors and businesses as well as residents. Once the trial connection goes live in November, businesses will be consulted on their experiences of it. The chairman of York Business Forum, Adam Sinclair, claimed “many innovative opportunities” could stem from the “forward thinking scheme”.

Wireless access points will be located along Coney Street and in St Helens Square and connect into the existing city-wide fibre council network. The public will be given the same level of internet access as that at York Explore Library Learning Centre.

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