Donation points planned for city walls

Donation points could be installed on York's city walls to reduce the cost of maintenance for the city's council.

Under the plans, an interpretation space would also be installed within Bootham Bar to educate visitors about the history of the walls and how they are maintained.

The council said the costs of maintaining the walls were met through capital borrowing but did not give a figure.

Officers at City of York Council have recommended approving the proposal at a cost of £5,000 and it will be discussed by councillors at a meeting on 25 March.

A report to the authority said: "Should the project be more successful than anticipated it would allow us to go beyond what we currently do and realise some of the opportunities that the conservation management plan identified."

The donation points would also feature a QR code to facilitate web-based donations, based on a similar system used by the Anglican Diocese of York which had proved successful, officers said.

The report said up to 2.5 million people visited the walls each year.

It described the popular visitor attraction as "the most significant of [the council's] heritage assets, with nearly 2,000 years of history contained in the monument".

It said: "Since being saved in the 1830s by the residents of York, they remain an integral part of York's identity and proud symbol for the city."

It said a consultation would take place with Historic England, Visit York and the Friends of York Walls as part of the plans.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.