Belfast Big Wheel
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‘Belfast Eye’ is set to make its debut in time for Christmas, at a cost of £3.5m
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
By Victoria O’Hara
Belfast’s Big Wheel has finally arrived and is expected to be spinning in the city within weeks.
The construction of the massive 60m, £3.5m wheel is underway outside the City Hall after months of delay.
Within weeks members of the public will be able to enjoy panoramic views from the ‘Belfast Eye’ 200ft above the city.
The wheel has 42 air-conditioned passenger capsules, which can hold up to 330 people and each flight takes approximately 15 minutes.
The construction operation is scheduled to take between two and three weeks with engineers flying in from Holland to erect the wheel.
An official opening is understood to be scheduled for November 19, allowing members of the public to view the city sights during the Christmas period.
World Tourist Attractions successfully won the tender to operate the wheel earlier this year.
The UK firm has already built landmark big wheels in Manchester and Seville where they have become top tourist attractions.
John Lowry, from the company, said they are delighted to have the construction of the wheel finally under way.
“We are due to stay until March, but we would like to stay longer,” he said.
“We’ve got engineers from Holland and technicians from England putting the wheel together.
“It took a long time, but it is great to finally be over and to bring the wheel to Belfast.
He added: “I understand that there will be an official ceremony held around November 19.”
The massive multi-million pound structure was originally expected to open in the grounds of the City Hall last summer to mark the historical building’s centenary.
Proposals to erect the wheel at the City Hall were approved by both two council committees in March 2006.
But it did not receive full council backing until October 2006, due to key issues such as cost, the use of council land, and the duration of the project needing to be addressed.
In February 2007 – after months of delay – the Department for Social Development (the agency responsible for the major project), said the giant wheel was then set to be open to the public from June until October 2007, following the tendering process.
But the project was again hit with further delays.
Despite the City Hall closing for major renovation work the wheel will remain in the grounds for the next five months.
In May a DSD spokeswoman said: “Visitors and local people will be able to view from the air the Christmas lights and the extensive city centre regenaration.”
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This is to make it look more London like I suppose.:rolleyes: I think it will look on the wrong side of rediculous though.
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Beside City Hall? That’s a shame, I presume that photo above is photoshopped by someone on this forum, but if it’s actually going to be in that spot, it’s a terrible shame. Surely the docklands would be a better location?
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@cubix wrote:
‘Belfast Eye’ is set to make its debut in time for Christmas, at a cost of £3.5m
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
By Victoria O’Hara
Belfast’s Big Wheel has finally arrived and is expected to be spinning in the city within weeks.
The construction of the massive 60m, £3.5m wheel is underway outside the City Hall after months of delay.
Within weeks members of the public will be able to enjoy panoramic views from the ‘Belfast Eye’ 200ft above the city.
The wheel has 42 air-conditioned passenger capsules, which can hold up to 330 people and each flight takes approximately 15 minutes.
The construction operation is scheduled to take between two and three weeks with engineers flying in from Holland to erect the wheel.
An official opening is understood to be scheduled for November 19, allowing members of the public to view the city sights during the Christmas period.
World Tourist Attractions successfully won the tender to operate the wheel earlier this year.
The UK firm has already built landmark big wheels in Manchester and Seville where they have become top tourist attractions.
John Lowry, from the company, said they are delighted to have the construction of the wheel finally under way.
“We are due to stay until March, but we would like to stay longer,” he said.
“We’ve got engineers from Holland and technicians from England putting the wheel together.
“It took a long time, but it is great to finally be over and to bring the wheel to Belfast.
He added: “I understand that there will be an official ceremony held around November 19.”
The massive multi-million pound structure was originally expected to open in the grounds of the City Hall last summer to mark the historical building’s centenary.
Proposals to erect the wheel at the City Hall were approved by both two council committees in March 2006.
But it did not receive full council backing until October 2006, due to key issues such as cost, the use of council land, and the duration of the project needing to be addressed.
In February 2007 – after months of delay – the Department for Social Development (the agency responsible for the major project), said the giant wheel was then set to be open to the public from June until October 2007, following the tendering process.
But the project was again hit with further delays.
Despite the City Hall closing for major renovation work the wheel will remain in the grounds for the next five months.
In May a DSD spokeswoman said: “Visitors and local people will be able to view from the air the Christmas lights and the extensive city centre regenaration.”
Fair play to them! They don’t mess around up there. And just like the Titanic quarter, not a NIMBY in sight!
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Um… First the Dublin spire ripoff on top of that church, now a baby London eye. Any original ideas up there?
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@AndrewP wrote:
Um… First the Dublin spire ripoff on top of that church, now a baby London eye. Any original ideas up there?
If there were, would anyone on this forum like to talk about them…..I think not……anyhow we’re wasting time talking about this…let’s get back to Dublin……
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Another post from Desmund, another use of the word ‘nimby’. Reassuringly consistent, if nothing else.
@AndrewP wrote:
Any original ideas up there?
Well apparently their expertise in conflict resolution is in high demand these days, so there’s that. 😉
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@Desmund wrote:
Fair play to them! They don’t mess around up there. And just like the Titanic quarter, not a NIMBY in sight!
So true!photo was taken from BBC website and im not sure ifs its been built in the current location but so what if it is,that building looks run down and and dilapatated to me,if anything it will enhance it-maybe a copycat off London but these are everywhere now
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@ctesiphon wrote:
Another post from Desmund, another use of the word ‘nimby’. Reassuringly consistent, if nothing else.
Only too happy to be reassuring ctesiphon;) Dublin – Interesting projects get proposed – challenged (everything) shelved then dropped. Belfast – it gets built (generally). Consequently they have architecture which represents its chronological development. Small city with a big city attitude. Dublin on other hand – big city with a parochial one!
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@ctesiphon wrote:
Another post from Desmund, another use of the word ‘nimby’. Reassuringly consistent, if nothing else.
Only too happy to be reassuring ctesiphon;) But c’mon. It’s all very well having the demcratic right of appeal, but it seems that Dubliners make an art form out of it! This results in projects eventually getting dropped. In Belfast they just get on with it and build the bloddy thing;-)
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@ctesiphon wrote:
Another post from Desmund, another use of the word ‘nimby’. Reassuringly consistent, if nothing else.
Only too happy to be reassuring ctesiphon;) Dublin – Interesting projects get proposed – challenged (everything) shelved then dropped. Belfast – it gets built (generally). Consequently they have architecture which represents its chronological development. Small city with a big city attitude. Dublin on other hand – big city with a parochial one!
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…..I know there was some pains about originality with belfast’s big wheel…..but I have to say, even thogh the views aren’t up to the standard of london or shanghai or whatever! that it still looks pretty good……. photos http://www.flickr.com/groups/belfastbigwheel/pool/
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Views look great from them pics,apparently its gonna be made a permanent fixture which only makes sense considering the 3.5m it cost.
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Perhaps we could offer rides on the Spire cleaning crane since that’s going to appear every couple of months!:(
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Is every regional capital in the UK getting a ferris wheel? That’d be an inducement back into the Union 😉
One would look good down the docks here in Dublin. And €3.5m is a steal. -
in fairness there seems to be a real craze for observation towers / wheels whatever right now…….have you seen the monster they are building in beijing …..the great wheel of china….very original http://www.greatwheel.com/beijing_english.htm
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