York's wheel to close after extension refusal 28 September 2013 Last updated at 10:42 York's big wheel will close on Sunday after its owners were told not to apply for further extension time from the city council. The 175ft (53m) wheel was due to be taken down at the end of January but was given a six-month extension despite residents' objections. In August, the council said any further planning application to keep the wheel would be unlikely to succeed. Operator Wheels Entertainment Ltd said it would have "loved to stay" on site. People living in nearby apartments claimed the attraction at the Royal York Hotel was an invasion of their privacy. Since opening in December 2011, the wheel has had more than 450,000 visitors.