A LEADING business group has pledged to help remove "clutter" from the streets of York.

York Business Pride has decided to adopt a plan put forward by Sir Ron Cooke, former vice-chancellor of the University of York, and Bill Woolley, acting director of environment and development services at City of York Council, to remove unnecessary traffic signs and poles.

A pilot scheme to "neaten up" Duncombe Place, near the Minster is being established.

Adam Sinclair, York Business Pride chairman, said: "We will sponsor it. A schedule of work has been drawn up and costings are now being identified."

The plan coincides with a nationwide scheme by English Heritage called "Save Our Streets", and when York's plans are adopted it will put the city in the vanguard of that campaign.

Mr Sinclair said: "Once Duncombe Place is dealt with we will be drawing up a 'de-cluttering' audit for the whole city."

Meanwhile, the "war chest" built up through contributions by the city's business community has reached almost £200,000. This will help to pay for another new scheme in which York Business Pride is teaming up with York Civic Trust and specialist restoration firm William Anelay, of Osbaldwick, to clean up the famous George Leeman statue opposite the Memorial Gardens in Leeman Road.

York Civic Trust has already funded the cleaning of a statue of artist William Etty in Exhibition Square by the same sculptor, George Milburn.

The Business Pride Board has also confirmed its new £5,000 sponsorship of York In Bloom for 2005, in which traders will be helped to meet the cost of having 150 hanging baskets across the city - timed to coincide with the start of Royal Ascot in York.

Updated: 10:15 Monday, February 07, 2005