LIFE in York has taken a turn for the better. From May, residents and visitors will be able to go for a whirl on a giant Ferris wheel, thanks to an imaginative decision by the city council.

It is exciting to visualise the new perspective this will offer on York's ancient charms. Passengers will be lifted 60 metres into the sky, a viewpoint which will allow a fresh look at everything in our famously flat city. Council planners deserve praise for this productive example of political spin. After the uproar caused by the original plan to site the wheel in Tower Gardens, a wholly unsuitable location, councillors listened and ordered World Tourist Attractions back to the drawing board. The new site, on National Railway Museum (NRM) land at Leeman Road, is much more appropriate.

There is no doubt the wheel will generate more tourist income - just look at the popularity of the London Eye and similar projects in Birmingham and Manchester. That is particularly welcome after 2005 proved to be a sluggish year for tourism, despite York hosting Royal Ascot.

Not everyone is happy at the prospect. The police are concerned the new attraction will cause a pedestrian and traffic hazard.

But we are confident that NRM bosses, who have unrivalled experience in managing large numbers of visitors, can work with officers to ensure safety.

Others fear the wheel will dominate York's skyline. They should take comfort from the knowledge that this is only a temporary structure. Unlike, say, the Moat House Hotel or Ryedale House, this far more attractive landmark will be gone in three years.

Updated: 10:35 Friday, January 20, 2006