The Wheel of Weston - picture sent to us via our new iwitness24 Weston website by reader Adrian Burke.

Wait for wheel to return

Report by Charlotte Richardson , chief reporter Thursday, May 3, 2012
1:00 PM

IT IS unclear when one of Weston’s major seafront attractions will be returning to the town.

Despite expecting the Wheel of Weston to set up again in the resort in May, North Somerset Council revealed this week that it is still none the wiser as to when it will be back.

The local authority said in April it was ‘disappointed’ the big wheel would not be back in time for Easter as expected – it was due to entertain crowds in time for the busy period in the calendar, but failed to return.

Instead North Somerset Council said it would be back this month.

However, a spokesman said this week they ‘hope to reveal a date soon’ for when the popular ride will return.

They added: “We are still confident of welcoming the attraction back.”

The wheel is set to take up its usual spot on the Beach Lawns, following a sudden departure from the resort last year.

It has been in place for varying periods of time since 2010. It was expected to stay throughout the winter but was relocated to Glasgow in November.

A council spokesman said when they found out it would not return for Easter: “We do of course, understand the business maximising each wheel’s earning potential. We continue to have a good rapport with the operator and look forward to the wheel returning at the beginning of May.”

This is the second delay for the return of the wheel, with it originally due to return in time for the carnival in November.

Council executive member for tourism Felicity Baker said earlier this year that the move from Weston originally was unfortunate with tens of thousands of people flocking to the town for the carnival, but she insisted the authority has a good rapport with operator Great City Attractions.

The company’s head of global site development, Nigel Ward, promised at the time that the wheel would return to Weston in 2012.

4 comments

Any hamster will tell you that you can't spend all day going around in a wheel. You need to do other things and it's getting harder to find things to do in Weston!

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DA

Thursday, May 3, 2012
I think that as most major towns and cities have a wheel as their central attraction that North Somerset Council, should find something that is more unique as a feature for Weston seafront and money making tourist attraction.

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Teddy

Thursday, May 3, 2012
It wouldnt be surprising in the least if it didnt return, and possibly a sensible thing too, as now it would effectively be on a traffic island with crossing from Pier square a free for all! An accident waiting to happen me thinks. Why not offer Great City Attractions a plot a little further along the Lawns in a safer location, one that the residents cant moan about, say opposite the Grand Atlantic or opposite Ellenborough park?However, theres a nice bit of flat land now behind the Italian gardens that could be more suitable!

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TrueWestonian

Thursday, May 3, 2012
it still taking booking up in glasgow till sunday may the 13th it beggars believe people who run our tourism are like the rest of the council have not got a clue whats happening ,the way pulled out of weston i would not have them back anyway

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huttonmoor

Thursday, May 3, 2012