THE plan to bring a London Eye-style observation wheel to York would mean about 30 new jobs if the ambitious scheme gets the approval of councillors.

World Tourist Attractions has indicated that new staff would be employed on the site at Tower Gardens if it was able to put up the 54-metre tall wheel in March.

In Wednesday's Evening Press, we reported how the company has submitted a planning application to City of York Council to bring the wheel to York for 11 months.

Dwarfing Clifford's Tower and standing almost as tall as York Minster, it has been estimated that the wheel could attract as many as 250,000 visitors to the city.

It has already been a big success in Manchester and Birmingham and the Nuneaton-based firm now wants to bring its £3.5 million, 365 tonne, observation wheel to York.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said the prospect of new tourist jobs would be an "added bonus" for an initiative which it strongly supported.

"We know that 10,000 people are already employed in tourism in York - that's around ten per cent of the workforce," she said.

"It is good news because York is a tourist destination, which is attractive for people to work in and for those who are looking to work in the tourist industry.

"People find it is often good for the CV to work in York and, as far as this staff news is concerned, anything that improves employment figures in the industry has got to be good news."

The plan is due to be considered by City of York Council officers before it comes to councillors at a planning meeting in the coming weeks.

If approved, the wheel could be the focal point for a year which has been designated as a City Of Festivals, and also includes the prestigious Royal Ascot race meeting at York and plans to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, associated with one of York's most infamous sons, Guy Fawkes.

Updated: 11:32 Monday, January 31, 2005