The iconic Manchester Wheel is to be dismantled and removed from the city centre.
The giant tourist attraction, measuring 190ft, will be closed in April to make way for Olympic events, its operators said.
The observation wheel first appeared in Exchange Square at Christmas in 2004, and takes between 300,000 and 500,000 rides each year.
It will be closed on Sunday, April 15 at 6pm.
John Lowery, operations manager for Great City Attractions who manage the wheel, said: "Our Manchester attraction has been a big success, but unfortunately Manchester council have informed us they require the area for part of their Olympic events.
"The Wheel will only be here until the end of Easter to give the last remaining people a final opportunity to ride above Manchester’s skyline.”
Great City Attractions are now looking at other possible homes for the wheel in Manchester, but have so far been unsuccessful.
The Manchester Wheel was installed temporarily at Christmas 2004 and removed. It appeared again in 2006 and became a permanent fixture in May 2007.
Mr Lowery added: “Great City Attractions want to make a special thank you to Manchester Council who gave the Wheel their full support making it the success that it has been.”
More news
Executive helicopter service launched by Peel at Barton airfield is 'resounding success'
Wythenshawe jobs boost as Virgin Media aims to create 150 call centre posts
Manchester Wheel to be axed in April
Dizzee Rascal and Flaming Lips to headline Parklife Weekender festival at Platt Fields Park
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Liverpool still has theirs.......They have much more open space.
With the new parking nightmare (cost) why not put it slightly out of the town centre giving people the option to still enjoy it? Lost of public money spent redeveloping Spinningfields and Media City in Salford..time to encourage a greater footfall and not rely on high end shops?
To say other areas have been explored but have been proved unsuccessful is a bold statement..we live in a big city with areas crying out for more visitors.
A wheely good story?
why move something that is bringing tourists and money to the town come on council give them a break
Now how will I get to see the air-conditioning units on top of all the buildings of Manchester?
why move something that is bringing tourists and money to the town come on council give them a break
Olympic events?
I thought they were the London Olympics...not the Manchester, or North-West Olympics
Olympic events? Then what will the space be used for after that?
Move it to just outside Manchester to Manchester United football ground as that's a big tourist attraction.
Karney you buffoon! WHY?
Actually, don't bother. I'm not interested.
Ya make me want to vomit.
Which Olympics would that be then?
Oh!Yes,the ones in London,they've still got their wheel.
This council will not be happy till it's gone
Well if the wheel is going, how about persuading some of Manchester's high rise owners to go to the top of their buildings? Beetham Tower has a bar half way up but it's a bit snooty.
It's been nice having it - it's a shame they can't find somewhere else for it.
There is allways, the Trafford Centre, Salford Quays, Piccadilly Gardens, Albert Square, G-Mex, to name but a few.
Have these options been explored or ignored ?
Hang on the Council has taken the rent since 2004 but are now going to say no thank you due to a 2 week event in London? So is the loss of rent and jobs worth it for a few weeks events and a big tv screen? Come on wake up into the real world perm jobs and rent for the site is worth more then 2 weeks Pr
What complete and utter waste of a fantastic tourist attraction ...for the sake of a c##p olympic event.
I'll certainly be staying away from Manchester if they put any amatuer sporting ...money loss events on there.
The Manchester Wheel was installed temporarily at Christmas 2004 and removed. It appeared again in 2006 and became a permanent fixture in May 2007.
How can it ever have been a permanent fixture if it is being moved again ?.
Crazy to move something that brings revenue to the City.
But hey we are MCC, we will do what we want !!!.
Good!!
Its an eyesaw! Open space is rare in manchester, lets keep the open space open, not put unjustifiably expensive 'attractions' there for a select few to use.
I watched live earth at exchange square when the wheel wasnt there. Great atmosphere & full of people!
Very disappointed. That was one attraction our group from Malta was looking for to!
cant they just move it and put it outside the town hall
Olympic events??? Whose Olympics? The corrupt IOC snubbed Manchester years go. This city should wash its hands of them and anything to do with their tainted event. Let the Cockneys cosy up to that shower. In contrast, Great City Attractions has actively supported and enhanced Manchester's tourist appeal for many years now. Why kick them in the teeth, councillors? What were you thinking of?
cant they just move it somewhere else like outside the town hall or media city i think there only getting rid of it so they can get bums on seats to watch the tv in the rain LOL
Stupid.
When they say Olympic events do they mean we'll put some bars in the square so you can watch the big television?
Manchester council never fail to make a complete mess out of everything... the amount of people who use the wheel, photograph it, stand and gawp at it is unbelievable... it's surely one of the main sites that sticks in the mind of anyone who's visited the city - and would only be more popular alongside olympic events and the opening of the football museum...
.. to cement the stupidity of manchester council - they've also positioned the new screen in exchange square so that it's too high for comfortable viewing - rather than using the original site, they've moved it along and up for no apparent reason... the stupidity is stunning.
Good news at last - its an eyesore, a blot on the landscape. Hopefully they will scrap those overrated xmas markets too!
Why can't it be part of the Olympic celebrations?