AS a re-vamp is planned for Exchange Square, Manchester’s iconic Big Wheel is getting the boot.
Now, planners are stumped as to an appropriate place to reconstruct the 60-metre, 300-tonne steel attraction.
Manchester’s Big Wheel is, for the moment, homeless.
If no space can be found for the wheel, there is a possibility that it won’t be re-built in Manchester city centre. And that would be sad indeed.
The wheel, which will serve its last passengers on April 15, and then will be dismantled and re-located. Although there are discussions about moving the wheel to Edinburgh temporarily, Manchester City Council and owners Great City Attractions are keen to find the wheel a permanent home here in the city centre.
The eviction precedes changes to Exchange Square, with both short term and long term plans coming into play
In the run-up to the London Olympics, Exchange Square will be re-designed to house a giant screen and serve as a public viewing space for the Games.
In the long term, plans for the space include a Metrolink stop as part of the system’s on-going expansions - check out the Metrolink video here.. As such, there’s little chance that the big wheel will be able to return there.
The city centre has a paucity of large open spaces suitable for an installation this size, and though Piccadilly Gardens seems an obvious option, the large number events that take place there throughout the year make perhaps Manchester’s highest-profile spot a no-go.
“It’s the modern image for the city,” he said. “Whereas you used to see the Town Hall, now you see pictures of the Big Wheel on pamphlets and things like estate agents’ advertisements.”
If no space can be found for the wheel, there is a possibility that it won’t be re-built in Manchester city centre.
And that would be sad indeed, said Councillor Pat Karney.
“A wheel-less Manchester would be a real shame,” said Cllr Karney. “I’m a wheel person– meaning I really like our wheel, even though I’ve never been on it. I’m terrified of heights, so I give these kids I see of six or seven years old a lot of credit for riding it.
“It’s the modern image for the city,” he said. “Whereas you used to see the Town Hall, now you see pictures of the Big Wheel on pamphlets and things like estate agents’ advertisements.”
The Wheel Needs To Roll
The councillor invited Confidential readers to suggest a suitable place for the wheel.
Suggestions thrown around the ManCon office were the top of Beetham Tower to make it extra higher. Pat Karney would really hate it then.
Or maybe in the new Greengate square over the river from the Manchester Cathedral and technically in Salford.
“Obviously, it would have to be somewhere with a lot of footfall,” said the councillor (too bad for our Beetham Tower idea).
“The Exchange Square site has been brilliant because of all the shoppers coming into the area. So, the space would need to be reasonably prominent.”
Readers are welcome to leave comments here with suggestions as to possible Big Wheel locations - feel free to be as absurd as possible.
Burning its last - the Big Wheel
