AN EYESORE beside one of York's most historic landmarks is being removed after two years of campaigning.

Councillor Brian Watson has been asking for fencing surrounding a plinth in the shadow of Clifford's Tower to be removed since August 2000.

Workmen finally moved in to start re-landscaping the area this month.

The fencing was put up to surround a stepped section of path after a fall by a pedestrian.

Coun Watson, representing Guildhall ward which includes Clifford's Tower, branded it an "accident-prone eyesore" and demanded that it be removed.

Work has now started to flatten the step and grass the area around the plinth.

A City of York Council spokesman said: "We inherited this situation from the Millennium Bridge Trust since it is part of the Millennium Bridge route street furniture, and we have been trying to resolve the issue of safety ever since.

"This is a sensitive site and a number of planning applications have had to be submitted in an attempt to get the right design. Over this time, concerns about the safety of the scheme and various alternatives for pedestrians continued and we have decided to keep the plinth but grass the area back over.

"This will remove the hard standing area, which was felt to be hazardous."

The spokesman said the Millennium Bridge Trust had failed to apply for scheduled monument consent from English Heritage when the plinth was put in place, despite the fact that one was necessary.

He said: "Since taking over responsibility for it, the council has been working closely with English Heritage, who have agreed to the area being returned to its original state."

Coun Watson said: "My grandson was born when I started complaining about this, and he's now more than two years old, so that shows how long it has taken.

"But I am very glad that the work has started at last."

Updated: 16:29 Thursday, September 19, 2002