Belfast Wheel

Belfast Wheel at night, March 2010

Belfast Wheel, City Hall and Continental Market, December 2009

Belfast Wheel capsule and City Hall, December 2009

The Belfast Wheel was a 60-metre (200 ft) tall transportable Ferris wheel installation in the centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland, in the grounds on the east side of Belfast City Hall. It operated from November 2007 to April 2010.

History

The Belfast Wheel was brought to Belfast in partnership with Belfast City Council and the Department for Social Development.[1] It was operated by World Tourist Attractions.

It opened in November 2007 and operated seven days a week. Views right across Belfast and Belfast Lough could be seen.[2]

In May 2009, Belfast City Council voted to keep the big wheel on site for a further two years,[3] from 1 September 2009.[4] On 30 November 2009, the location of the Belfast Wheel again caused a row, resulting in the Lord Mayor of Belfast Naomi Long discussing the potential move of the Titanic Memorial before the 2012 anniversary.[5]

The Belfast Wheel closed for business on Sunday 11 April 2010. The operator, Great City Attractions, had announced a few weeks previously that it would be removed.[6]

Protest

[7]

References

1. "The Wheel of Belfast". World Tourist Attractions. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
2. "All aboard the big wheel". News Letter (Belfast). Johnston Press Digital Publishing. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2007. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
3. "Man held after Big Wheel climb". BBC Northern Ireland (23 June 2009). 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
4. "Titanic fans want Belfast memorial to be relocated". Encyclopedia Titanica (5 June 2009). Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 4 July 2009.
5. BBC News website
6. "Last day for Belfast's Big Wheel". BBC News. 11 April 2010.
7. McCreary, Matthew (23 June 2009). "Man charged over Belfast big wheel climb". Belfast Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 June 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2009.

External links

• Belfast City's official web page for the Belfast Wheel

54°35′48.77″N 5°55′45.06″W