Wheel of Manchester
{{Short description|Ferris Wheel}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox building
|image = Wheel of Manchester, Piccadilly Gardens (geograph 3813111).jpg
|image_size = 220px
|caption = Wheel of Manchester in 2014
|name = Wheel of Manchester
|location = Manchester city centre, UK:
{{plainlist|*Exchange Square, Manchester (2004-2012)
- Piccadilly Gardens (2012-2013)}}
|opened_date = 2004
|closing_date = April 2015
|status = demolished
|height = {{Convert|52.7|m|ft|0}} (current)
|completion_date = 2004 (first installation)
|demolition_date = June 2015 (most recent installation)
|building_type = Ferris wheel
}}
The Wheel of Manchester{{cite web|title=World Tourist Attractions – The Wheel of Manchester|url=http://www.worldtouristattractions.co.uk/wta_wheel_manchester.php|access-date=7 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216090053/http://worldtouristattractions.co.uk/wta_wheel_manchester.php|archive-date=16 February 2009}} was a transportable Ferris wheel installation at Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, England. The wheel was originally a smaller installation based in Exchange Square, first assembled in 2004. The wheel's size was increased to {{Convert|60|m|ft|0}} in 2007, and plans existed to increase this further. However, these plans were never submitted. The wheel was dismantled in 2012 to make way for 2012 Olympics celebrations and Metrolink construction work. In 2013, a new {{Convert|52.7|m|ft|0|adj=on}} wheel was installed in Piccadilly Gardens. It was dismantled in June 2015.
History
=2004–2007=
The first wheel was first installed in 2004 which was a success and consequently a larger {{Convert|60|m|ft|0|adj=on}} wheel was erected in May 2007.{{cite news|title=Big wheel returns to city centre|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6690967.stm|access-date=5 January 2011|publisher=BBC News|date=25 May 2007}}
=2007–2012=
The wheel returned in May 2007 and was sponsored by the Manchester Evening News. A larger wheel was initially planned for 2008, but it was never installed. In 2010, Manchester City Council proposed a {{Convert|120|m|ft|0|abbr=on|adj=on}} wheel, to be operated by World Tourist Attractions, as a replacement for the existing transportable installation, with Piccadilly Gardens the possible site and completion expected by Christmas 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11459081|title=Manchester 'monster' wheel plans confirmed|publisher=BBC News|date=2 October 2010}} The installation was later taken over by Great City Attractions when World Tourist Attractions merged with Great Wheel Corporation.{{Cite news |title=Manchester Big Wheel set to spin for final time on Sunday |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1490739_manchester-big-wheel-set-to-spin-for-final-time-on-sunday |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=9 April 2012 |access-date=9 April 2012|last1=Linton|first1=Deborah|last2=Bell|first2=Alex|publisher=M.E.N. Media}} In 2011 it became known as {{Anchor|Capital Wheel of Manchester|The Capital Wheel of Manchester}}The Capital Wheel of Manchester, through a sponsorship deal with Capital FM.{{cite web|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/manchester/on-air/breakfast/show-blog/captial-wheel-manchester/ |title=The Capital Wheel of Manchester – Capital Breakfast |publisher=Capital FM |date=21 November 2011 |access-date=7 January 2014}} Although plans for a larger wheel were not publicly rejected, they never materialised.
The {{Convert|60|m|ft|0|adj=on}} wheel was removed in April 2012.{{Cite news |first=Jonathan |last=Schofield|title=Exciting Video Action: Metrolink's Sexy VT |url=http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/Exciting-Video-Action-Metrolinks-Sexy-VT |work=Manchester Confidential |date=8 February 2012 |access-date=8 February 2012}} Great City Attractions recommended to move the wheel to another area of the city such as Piccadilly Gardens, but this was rejected with the Council airing concerns about the wheel limiting space in Piccadilly.{{Cite news |title=Manchester Big wheel turns for the final time |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1491310_manchester-big-wheel-turns-for-the-final-time |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=16 April 2012}} Manchester City Council stated that they thought the wheel had "probably run its course in terms of an attraction" since its opening in 2004. The Council also added that space in Exchange Square was required for a number of reasons, including public viewing space for the 2012 Olympics and space for adjacent redevelopment projects, such as Exchange Square Metrolink station, the Metrolink second city crossing on Corporation Street, and the renovation of The Triangle.{{Cite news |title='Covent Garden of North' plan for Manchester's Triangle |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17367385 |publisher=BBC News |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=9 April 2012}} Following its last day of operation on 15 April 2012,{{cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1491310_manchester-big-wheel-turns-for-the-final-time |title=Manchester Big wheel turns for the final time – Manchester Evening News |publisher=Menmedia.co.uk |date=15 April 2012 |access-date=7 January 2014}} it was dismantled and moved to Edinburgh.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/ferris-wheel-on-the-way-1-2250582 |title=Ferris wheel on the way – Edinburgh Evening News |work=The Scotsman |date=23 April 2012 |access-date=7 January 2014}}
The removal of the Ferris wheel was welcomed by some who believed the wheel had run its course as an attraction.{{cite web |title=The Beauty of Absence: Exchange Square Comes Clean |last=Schofield |first=Jonathan |url=http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/The-Beauty-Of-Absence |work=Manchester Confidential |date=3 May 2012 |access-date=31 October 2012}} Tony Wilson, one of Manchester's most famous cultural patrons, hated the Ferris wheel stating: "It ruins a perfectly good square and it's a poor imitation of something London's done a lot better. We shouldn't be doing it."{{cite news |title=Tony Wilson – Manchester legend |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/6250202.stm |publisher=BBC |date=29 June 2007 |access-date=3 December 2012}}
=2013–2015=
File:Manchester, UK - panoramio (16).jpg
In 2013, a new {{Convert|52.7|m|ft|0|adj=on}} wheel returned to Manchester to replace the original for New Years celebrations.{{cite web|author=Jennifer Williams |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchesters-big-wheel-set-return-6274610 |title=Manchester's Big Wheel set to return – this time in Piccadilly Gardens |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=5 November 2013 |access-date=8 January 2014}} However, this wheel was located at Piccadilly Gardens.{{cite news|url=http://manchestergazette.co.uk/new-years-fireworks-spectacular-at-piccadilly-gardens-manchester/|title=New Years Firework Spectacular at Piccadilly Gardens Manchester|work=Manchester Gazette|date=29 December 2013}} A disagreement between Manchester City Council and the owners Wheels Entertainments arose after the licence to run the attraction ran out in April 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/work-dismantle-piccadilly-gardens-big-9415866|title=Work to dismantle Piccadilly Gardens big wheel to begin tonight, say council bosses|author=Jennifer Williams|date=9 June 2015|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=9 June 2015}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Commons category|Wheel of Manchester}}
{{Ferris wheel}}
{{Coord|53.48433|N|2.24310|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
Category:Transportable Ferris wheels
Category:Tourist attractions in Manchester
Category:Buildings and structures in Manchester
Category:2012 disestablishments in England