Time’s up for visitor attraction’s spin cycle

York Council confirmed last night that planning permission for the attraction, in the grounds of The Royal York Hotel, will only be in place for the next few weeks.

It warned that the terms of the permission required it to be dismantled by the end of next month. York Council’s planning team said in a statement last night: “The planning permission requires that the wheel will be closed and everything removed from the site by the end of February 2013.”

Last year, Great City Attractions Global, which ran the wheel, went into administration, however it is understood that the running of wheels in York and Plymouth was carried on by a different operator.

The operator could not be contacted by the Yorkshire Post last night to establish its plans and whether it hoped to extend planning permission or return the wheel to the city at a later date.

York’s answer to the London Eye, towering above the city’s skyline, was approved at the end of 2011, in a move which brought the attraction back to the city after it was earlier scrapped.

Proposals were drawn up to build a 175ft high observation wheel in the gardens of the hotel and council planning bosses agreed it would remain in the city centre conservation area until January 2013.

Approving the plans brought to an end a long-running saga to find a new location for the attraction after a giant wheel at the city’s National Railway Museum was removed in November 2008.

Great City Attractions had earlier said it wished to build a 200ft structure at the Museum Gardens.

However, it was forced to abandon the attempt after evidence was found that protected species of bats were using the site.

Tourism chiefs have praised the wheel and its impact on bringing tourists to the area.

The chief executive of Visit York, Gillian Cruddas, speaking at the time moves were being considered to bring the wheel back to York, said when it originally opened it became an icon of the city. She added: “We believe the wheel helps to enhance the international profile of York and adds a new dimension to the cityscape.”