Trams stall Leith wheel

Published on Thursday 7 July 2011 11:14

PLANS to create Scotland's answer to the London Eye on Edinburgh's waterfront could be shelved because of the city council's failure to take the tram line to Leith.

&#149 The wheel, if built, would be a prominent feature of the city's skyline

Great City Attractions – the company behind the world's biggest observational wheel in Singapore – hoped to build a similar structure near Ocean Terminal.

But the Birmingham-based firm today said that the ambitious project, "Scotland's National Wheel", is now under review because the tram link to the city centre and Edinburgh Airport was critical to making the scheme financially viable.

It is the latest blow to hopes of regenerating the Leith Docks area, after the Evening News revealed yesterday Forth Ports will reassess its 30-year vision for the development, following its recent takeover.

Nigel Ward, head of global development at Great City Attractions, said: "We have been waiting for the outcome of discussions on the trams so that would we can include that as part of our decision-making process.

"That is with our senior management for consideration and I have not yet had feedback on that.

"The tram would have a big impact on the financial viability and attractiveness of the project because the tram terminal was a major investment."

The firm confirmed in December it had struck a deal with Forth Ports to create a structure expected to be around 85 metres tall on land outside Ocean Terminal that is usually used by the Chinese State Circus and other events.

The site was right next to the proposed tram stop – which would have taken visitors from Princes Street directly to the attraction in just 20 minutes.

Following the land deal, it said that it expected to submit a full planning application imminently - but there has still been no progress.

A spokesman for Forth Ports said: "There has not been further discussion on this attraction for quite some time. There is enough land at the Waterfront to accommodate attractions of this type and Forth Ports is willing to discuss this with the city council and others but there have not been such discussions for some time."

Leith councillor Gordon Munro said: "This does not surprise me as the tram was integral to the work. I've seen the wheel in Liverpool and I've been on the Eye in London and I know how attractive these are, so I'm sure people would have come to Leith for it."

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "If Great World Attractions feel the only reason visitors would go there was because of the tram then I don't see that stacking up because there is a pretty good number 22 bus service.

"There is an opportunity there for the right attraction."