Edinburgh council put brakes on ferris wheel plans

CONTROVERSIAL plans to install a giant ferris wheel into one of Edinburgh’s most popular beauty spots have been thrown into disarray because of problems building the structure.

The 60-metre tall wheel, which was due to start running by the end of April, has been postponed indefinitely because the operator cannot get the city’s answer to the London Eye into Princes Street Gardens.

Business leaders in the city have been told the “Edinburgh Wheel” venture, which was supposed to be open until 10pm every day until the end of October, may be scrapped unless a solution can be found.

Last night the city council, which struck a lucrative deal with a West Midlands-based firm to rent out a site near the Ross Bandstand, was unable to confirm if the deal was still on.

It is thought the operators are likely to ask for an extension for their contract to use the gardens to make up for lost business – if the wheel ever starts running.

However, heritage groups have pledged to oppose such a move, pointing out that when councillors agreed to allow the installation of the wheel in April, it was with a strict condition that it be removed in October. The wheel was supposed to take just a handful of days to erect, but work on site has never got underway.

The Scotsman has learned a planned access route through a church graveyard at the western end of the gardens has proved too difficult. Concerns about heavy parts transported via a small bridge over the main railway lines out of Waverley Station are thought to have exacerbated the problems, while tramworks have closed off Princes Street.

Network Rail officials had already raised concerns with the council about using the bridge, while the graveyard route was also problematic because of weight limits above tunnels en route to Haymarket station.

The delay of the wheel is a major embarrassment for the council, which had hoped it would be in place for the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the city tomorrow and help tramworks-hit businesses in the west end.

One trader in the west end said: “We were told last week the whole thing is in doubt because there are serious problems getting the wheel into the gardens. It’s another classic council cock-up when this was supposed to help local businesses.”

A council spokeswoman said: “We continue to remain supportive of Great City Attractions, who face a complicated engineering challenge getting the wheel into Princes Street Gardens.”

Nigel Ward, head of global development at the company, said: “I cannot comment on this.”

However, Euan Leitch, assistant director at the Cockburn Association, said: “We would be opposed to any extension being granted. This situation presents an opportunity to look for another site as the current one is simply inappropriate.”