Scotsman archive

Published on Sunday 30 November 2008 21:05

EDINBURGH BIG WHEEL IN DOUBT, 1 December, 2001

EDINBURGH'S showpiece Christmas celebrations descended into farce yesterday after the city council's plans to open a Ferris wheel in Princes Street were scuppered by officials, including some from its own planning department. Health and safety experts warned that the wheel, which is currently sitting inches away from the Scott Monument, could be a danger to passers-by and to double-decker buses travelling along Princes Street.

The fiasco has overshadowed the capital's ambitious Capital Christmas plans, part of the city's drive to become one of the UK's top festive destinations.The wheel – which has been borrowed from Strathclyde Country Park – was scheduled to open on Wednesday but Health & Safety Executive inspectors ruled that its position, with gondolas arching out over Princes Street, was dangerous.

It was feared that items dropped from the open-air cars could fall onto the street or onto open-topped buses. At one stage inspectors even said the structure could be struck by passing double-decker buses, but this was later retracted.

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