IT is one of the most beautiful scenes in York - historic Clifford's Tower on its daffodil-covered mound.

But the view has been spoilt for more than 18 months by ugly metal fencing near the base of the mound.

And for much of the time in recent weeks, the fencing has not even been serving its intended purpose. Instead of stopping people from falling down a steep step, it has just been blocking the way of pedestrians along a pavement.

The fencing was put up around the steeply-stepped plinth and information board, built by the York Millennium Bridge Trust as part of the Millennium Walkway, in 2000.

City of York Council took over responsibility for the site after the trust was disbanded.

York councillor Brian Watson, who has been pressing for action on the eyesore since September 2000, said today he understood the fencing would finally be removed within the next month, and the steps replaced by a safer grassy area - just like there used to be.

He said the stepped section of path was an "accident-prone eyesore" which should never have been built, with pedestrians at risk of falling down the steps in the dark.

He said the fencing had been repeatedly removed from its correct position by skateboarders wanting to skateboard in the area.

York resident Gill Wignall, who walks past the fencing every day on her way to work, said: "It's incredible that they didn't consider the implications before they built the plinth, and that it has taken so long for this matter to be resolved."

A council spokesman said the fence was placed there to protect the public from the plinth. "We are working on a solution at the moment."

Updated: 10:59 Saturday, April 06, 2002