Construction starts on Middlesbrough’s big wheel

MIDDLESBROUGH’S own big wheel is set to turn within the coming week in Centre Square.

Work on erecting the 40m high observation wheel is under way.
Artist's impression of the Giant Wheel

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/mar2009/8/8/artists-impression-of-the-giant-wheel-786785048.jpg

The wheel will be an attraction in the town centre over the festive period and it may remain into 2010.

Its arrival in the town comes after the disappointment earlier this year when plans to bring a big wheel to the town failed to materialise.

A partnership between Middlesbrough Council and wheel operators Great City Attractions is bringing the wheel to the town.

About 20 jobs will be created and interviews for them were being held up to 6pm today at the Thistle Hotel in Fry Street.
A crane stands ready to lift Middlesbroughs big wheel into place in Centre Square

The idea for the big wheel in Centre Square follows an approach to the council last year by the West Midlands-based company which operates giant observation wheels at sites across the globe.

Middlesbrough’s giant wheel will be the only one of its kind currently operating in the North-east.

It follows successful projects at other towns and cities across the UK and internationally including Belfast, London, Paris, Singapore and Brisbane.

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/nov2009/3/9/a-crane-stands-ready-to-lift-middlesbrough-s-big-wheel-into-place-in-centre-square-927209943.jpg

The Wheel of Middlesbrough will be 40m high - twice the height of the Angel of the North. It will have 30 glass-sided and climate-controlled observation pods, each carrying up to eight people with a specially recorded on-board commentary.

People will pay £5 for adults (concessions £4) and £3 for children aged three to 16 and £1 for children aged one to three.

Rides will last about 12 minutes and feature three revolutions of the wheel, affording passengers fantastic views across Teesside.

Installing the wheel in Centre Square, which is being provided at no cost to the council, requires no foundation work and GCA will undertake any necessary restoration work to the ground following its removal.

Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said: “We were disappointed not to be able to bring the wheel to Centre Square earlier in the year, but we gave an undertaking to work together to make the project happen. I’m delighted that that work has paid off.”

GCA spokesman Andy Millichamp said The Wheel of Middlesbrough had received fantastic support from the outset, and there had been a real sense of excitement among local people.

He said: “We are delighted to be able to supply a wheel in time for the festive period and would like to thank everyone involved at Middlesbrough Council who have worked extremely hard to help make this happen.

“We are confident that the giant observation wheel will be a welcome addition to Middlesbrough’s skyline, offering residents and visitors alike the chance to see this great town from a completely new perspective.”

For details visit www.greatcityattractions.com.

The jobs on offer at the Wheel are for managers, assistant managers, customer service assistants and attraction controllers. Over-18s should take a CV along to the interview sessions at the Thistle Hotel.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/11/24/construction-starts-on-middlesbrough-s-big-wheel-84229-25239159/

Should be able to get some good pics from the top!!

Yes, will definitely have to get up there, brilliant pics! The skyline from a far will be good with this included, will have to see if there's any good shots we can get with the whole skyline in.

Everyone in the area needs to support it - the more people go on it the longer it will stay. If it was popular it would be good if a permanent unique design to Teesside one could be built.

looks like a good location for this sort of thing. we had one on gateshead quays a few years back and it was always very bust.

Wow I never knew they were building one in Middlesbrough, might have to have a look down and get some photographs! Seems like too good a chance to miss! How long will it be there or is it permanent?

Always a popular addition to any town or city, they had one in York too a few years back and people loved it.

Looks good, would love to see one on the Quayside again, as Johnny said it was very popular last time.

Can only be good for Middlesbrough.

TownPlanningNE:

It will be there for 'several months.'

Yes should be fantastic! The more people that go down to Middlesbrough to support it the better. And the more likely the council are to get other things like this if its succesful and beneficial for the town.

Yep, it will be there till at least after Christmas, but if its successful they'll keep it there for even longer.

P.S. - If anyone goes and gets some photos, please post them on here! :D

Did it come from Weston-super-Mare?

Don't expect it to be like the London Eye...

Erm... it might of done. Actually, i think they said this one came from Paris.

I suppose you can't compare it to the London Eye. ;)

P.S. - If anyone goes and gets some photos, please post them on here! :D

If I get the chance to get some photo's from it I'll be sure to post them on here! :)

Thanks, I'm sure the views will be great.

I wonder what time it will open till? As would be good to get daylight, sunset and night time ones. :)

Middlesbrough’s giant wheel will be the only one of its kind currently operating in the North-east.

There's currently a pretty big wheel in Darlington right now too: http://www.visitteesvalley.co.uk/site/whats-on/search-results/darlington-ferris-wheel-2009-p417231

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/737678/?type=gallery

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/737682/?type=gallery

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/737683/?type=gallery

Unsure of its height but doesn't look as big as the one going up in Middlesbrough.

If I get shots from either, I'll make sure to post them up.

oh, great! I didn't even know that!!! Yeah doesn't look as big as the Boro one, but still looks good, looks more like a ferris wheel than an observation wheel.

THE big wheel taking shape in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square could start operating on Thursday.

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/gazettelive2/nov2009/9/3/middlesbrough-big-wheel-228291161.jpg

Work is going on to assemble the 40m high structure but high winds on recent days have hindered progress on building the wheel.

A spokesman for the wheel operators, Great City Attractions, said today the aim was now to have the wheel operating from Thursday.

The wheel will remain in Centre Square until the end of the festive period and its stay could be extended into 2010.

Middlesbrough’s giant wheel will be the only one of its kind currently operating in the North-east.

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/tm_campaign=Gazettelive_email_gazette-live-email%3A20091127%26headline=middlesbrough-8217-s-big-wheel-coming-on-nicely%26method=full%26objectid=25268138%26siteid=84229-name_page.html?campaign=Gazettelive_email_gazette-live-email%3A20091127

:banana:

There's currently a pretty big wheel in Darlington right now too: http://www.visitteesvalley.co.uk/site/whats-on/search-results/darlington-ferris-wheel-2009-p417231

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/737678/?type=gallery

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/737682/?type=gallery

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/737683/?type=gallery

Unsure of its height but doesn't look as big as the one going up in Middlesbrough.

If I get shots from either, I'll make sure to post them up.


its a technical park model 30 meteres

I think that Darlington one is one of the 3 which come to Hull Fair;

http://i47.tinypic.com/25kifsy.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/1z3lyj9.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/mlh313.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/2a9pniq.jpg

Yeah, thats more of a fun fair ride though isn't it than an observation wheel? I think the Boro one will obv. go a lot slower so will take longer so you can take ina ll the views. It goes round three times.

Here are some pics I took of the wheel at the weekend

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2713/4149189627_d769fecab7.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2651/4149153087_068476f0dd.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/4149910994_91f247db03.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/4149909416_4355c16d50.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2537/4149149835_021718c1c0.jpg

Brilliant, looking like pac man. :) WIll be a good view at MIMA terrace to just stand and watch it go round. Do you know what time MIMA opens till?
Thursday this is due to be complete right?

We should really create a thread for MIMA!

Brilliant, looking like pac man. :) WIll be a good view at MIMA terrace to just stand and watch it go round. Do you know what time MIMA opens till?
Thursday this is due to be complete right?

We should really create a thread for MIMA!

Pac man,i like it (LOL!!!):lol::lol:
You are right , we need a MIMA thread .I was down there saturday to see the Top Gear exhibition and it was quite good!! .

Hehe. :P

Yep, with some photos in/out of the building and updates and discussion of exhibitions on. Although discussion of anything to do with Top Gear or more specifically Jeremy Clarkson should be banned!

Hehe. :P

Yep, with some photos in/out of the building and updates and discussion of exhibitions on. Although discussion of anything to do with Top Gear or more specifically Jeremy Clarkson should be banned!

Yeh I know what you mean, I but I must say I did enjoy the exhibition

May go in when we go on the Big Wheel. Its now £4 for adults, which is pretty good, there was an article last night in the gazette. :)

Saw the wheel in the distance from the A19 Tees Flyover tonight ,it was all lit up looking great with the rest of the illuminated Boro skyline.
I will try and get some night pics of it over the next week.

Yes, saw it on flyover last night too, then we drove right too it and had a look, amazing! Had no camera with me though. Great if you can get some photos of the skyline with it on.

If only someone could get a photo of the skyline from the a19 flyover. :(

http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2009/12/08/middlesbrough-s-big-wheel-officially-opened-84229-25345589/

Two quick snaps of the wheel in the fog yesterday (because I was parked illegally)...

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9201/dsc3967.jpg

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/5871/dsc3965.jpg

^^ It looked far too fast for my liking :p , so I didn't get on.

haha, brilliant photos. Looks really good in the dark and fog, what time was this at?

Last couple of days i'm sure we'd be able to get some brilliant pictures in the fog!

haha, brilliant photos. Looks really good in the dark and fog, what time was this at?

Last couple of days i'm sure we'd be able to get some brilliant pictures in the fog!

16:23 to be exact. There were at least three photographers down there spending some time composing shots. I didn't have time because I parked round the back of MIMA. Had a quick visit because I just wanted to see what it looked like in the dark, and not from the A19 flyover :p

I must say, I like the lighting on it :)

I made use of the fog earlier in the day and got some nice photos of my favourite structure in the area - Newport Bridge. Can I open a new thread for Newport Bridge with full history, older images and current photos?

Ah ok brilliant! Hopefully those photos will go up on flick or something that other people have took. :) I love the view from the flyover and just wish we could get some photos from it which show the whole area's skyline.

Yes!!! Please do create a new thread, that would be fantastic for a Newport one, should get a Transporter one up too. Create as many threads as you like! :) Looking forward to seeing those photos. :)

I'll get that thread up as soon as I can and then get on with a Transporter one :D

I'll also get you that view of the skyline you mean... in time ;)

Great - anything to help activity as well!!! :)

Thanks!!!! I'd love to see that photo, and we can then show everyone just how good it looks, although its difficult to get it all the skyline(s) in! How would you do this? Just do it when driving past in the car?

How would you do this? Just do it when driving past in the car?

Nope ;) I've got to agree with you though, it is one of the best views of Middlesbrough from that direction, plus a bit of height. I'll be in London for the next week but I'll make sure to get those threads up when I'm back. So apologies for the delay :)

Yep, not just that its that you can see Stockton when looking the other way, which isn't half bad, and you've also got the industrial skyline as well as Newport Bridge and the Transporter Bridge, brilliant! No problem about the delay, enjoy London! :)

Fantastic photos, I should be in the Boro before Christmas, very tempted to give it a go. How much is it again?

£4 and you get about 5-10 minutes depending how busy it is. I was surprised to see people on there in the fog - as you could only see to the shopping centre and the town hall haha.

Thanks Bob! I'm looking forward to it :D

Excellent photos of the wheel in the fog.!!
Ive not been able to get out this week to get some more pics ,Ive been too busy ,I will try to this coming week.:)

£4 and you get about 5-10 minutes depending how busy it is.

Cheers :)

^ I think its £3 for Under 16's or something and even cheaper for Under 5, but i'm not sure, it should say on one of those gazette links above.

^ I think its £3 for Under 16's or something and even cheaper for Under 5, but i'm not sure, it should say on one of those gazette links above.

Neither of those concern me! :lol:

ah ok, oh well. :P Enjoy if you get on the Wheel, let us know what it was like.

I think i'll be going on for the night time next Monday. :) then in the day later on.

Anyone been on the wheel yet then?

Anyone been on the wheel yet then?

Ive been that busy I havent had chance to get down there ,also i dont have have a good head for heights but i am determined to go on it while its here,maybe in the next week.

Ah ok, hopefully i'll get on next week as well. Need to get some photos from up there! :) Shame they wont come out very well at night.

It its snowing in boro you might get some canny photo's from the wheel

Yeah i'm sure you would, hopefully some will come up on flickr or something soon. :) Will have to keep a look out.

In Stockton there has been a good 8 inches tonight, was very heavy earlier!

My trip to the Boro didn't go ahead in the end, far too much snow.

Ah yes, whats it like where you are? Snow hasn't even started to melt in Stockton yet!

I went on the Wheel last night in the dark, was good, but will be much better in the day as oyu will be able to point out all the landmarks. Looking forward to going on in the day. Cost me £3.00 as i got student prices. :)

Ah yes, whats it like where you are? Snow hasn't even started to melt in Stockton yet!


Same here in Hartlepool.

Ah ok, looks like it will be a white Christmas then. :) Meant to get a bit of snow overnight and sleet tomorrow.

Probably going on the wheel in the day time next week, so will get some photos. :)

Bye bye big wheel!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tees/8540695.stm

Sadly I never got round to having a go on it.

^^^ The Picture on the article is form my sister's boyfriend! They won a VIP trip on the wheel on Thursday.

Its starting to be dismantled now the wheel, i've heard that it was a success and theres a strong possibility that it will be brought back in the near future, i think they should have a permanent one!