THEY feared they may have to put up warning lights to help ensure aircraft didn't strike the 200-foot structure.

But council members are now set to relent on a planning condition imposed on the National Railway Museum (NRM), instructing it to set up the lights on the Yorkshire Wheel.

The NRM submitted an application, prior to the building of the popular tourist attraction, for the condition to be scrapped - and members of City of York Council's west area planning committee will consider that proposal on Thursday.

The wheel, which has been operating for little over a month, has been a huge success and has been visited by tens of thousands of tourists and city residents.

It has already become a city landmark to rival York Minster and Clifford's Tower.

The wheel was brought to York thanks to the NRM and World Tourist Attractions. The NRM runs the attraction.

A report to Thursday's meeting, written by development control officer Simon Glazier, reveals that structures less than 150 metres in height may need "aviation obstruction lighting" if they are considered to be a significant hazard.

But Mr Glazier states that the RAF base at Linton-on-Ouse has confirmed it does not require the fitting of obstruction lighting on the wheel.

"They comment that the wheel is lower than York Minster, and that military aircraft are mandated to avoid over-flights of conurbations except in certain circumstances, such as the over-flight of the Minster in celebration of a specific event," Mr Glazier wrote.

He concluded that as the RAF, and the Civil Aviation Authority, among others, considered lights not to be needed "the condition could be regarded as being an unduly onerous requirement upon the applicant".

The wheel is in place until January 2009, unless a new planning application is placed before council chiefs, so as not to prejudice the long-term development of the York Central teardrop site.

Updated: 11:11 Monday, May 15, 2006