Can't really get my head around all the anti-ism here - the gardens are hardly an area of outstanding beauty.

They're not, but that's beside the point. It is still an important piece of public space in the middle of the city. I don't see how dumping a giant wheel in the middle will improve it

One thing it will do also is stall the proposed redevelopment of the gardens until the lease is up. Which could be another what is it, 8 years?

One thing it will do also is stall the proposed redevelopment of the gardens until the lease is up. Which could be another what is it, 8 years?

Which proposed redevelpment is this?

I'd rather see it in picc than exchange sq tbh. Where it is now, it's just bloody criminal and has absolutely ruined that public realm.... not to mention taken the 'public' out of the realm.

i can't find any reference to it now but aren't there on-going meetings between pat karney and the public about the obvious need to do something about Piccadilly gardens and how?

For me the main fall down of such a big wheel in the city is the amount of public realm that its base needs.

I look at the wheel in What ever the Triangle/Cornmarket/Millennium square is called these days and imagine where a bigger version would be in Picc Gardens and try to think how you can fit in a bus, tram stations, the cac coloured Pic One, the internatioanl meeting space, the berlin wall, the outdoor shower suite and the roads to the north.

Gulp! Where does it go!!

Ah I know Stevenson Square.

That alleyway of empty shops that runs down great northern would be the perfect place for it

first street, i'm tellin ya!

Well I am sure there is a ratio between

a. Land space
b. Access for the public
c. Amount of passing trade
d. What the view is.

Nevertheless this is bloody exciting news

first street, i'm tellin ya!

Yeah, why not. Let the city council have to walk round the damn thing every day. :)

:banana::cheers::banana::cheers::banana:

Manchester Wheel to be axed in April
February 08, 2012

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.”



http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1481603_manchester-wheel-to-be-axed-in-april

I take it the plan to build the larger one elsewhere has been shelved then?

It’s been like having pikey travellers living in your back garden for years. Goodbye.

:wave::carrot::carrot::banana2::banana2::cucumber::cucumber:

If you wanna dance.

I think this is good and inevitable as soon as Metrolink Cross city two emerged, albeit much earlier than I expected.

I heard Pat Karney on BBC radio Manchester today wistfully hoping for the big wheel to return somewhere. But clearly ruling out Piccadilly Garden.

Personally I can not see anywhere where this could go, bar something daft like in front of Manchester Central AKA GMEX.

What was the ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach called that shot you into the air? They could have a massive one of those.

http://newsmanc.co.uk/2012/02/09/news-manchester-wheel-to-be-replaced-with-picture-of-arndale-roof/

Big Wheel in Manchester 'could move to Edinburgh' after it is taken down in Exchange Square

Pete Bainbridge

February 09, 2012

Manchester's Big Wheel will be removed from Exchange Square this spring – but there are question marks over if and where it will return.

The 190ft landmark attraction will be closed in April to make way for a giant screen and public viewing area for the London Olympics.

The 365-tonne attraction could be moved to Edinburgh for the summer while plans are made to return it to Manchester – but a new home has yet to be found.

Council bosses hope to transform the area around Exchange Square as part of a redevelopment of the The Triangle shopping centre – meaning the wheel could not return to its home of six years.

The wheel, which attracts between 300,000 and 500,000 tourists a year, is due to take its last passengers on Sunday, April 15.

Great City Attractions, which owns the wheel, is keen to move it to Piccadilly Gardens – but council chiefs say that may not be feasible and the company is looking at other possible locations.

John Lowery, operations manager for Great City Attractions, 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."

The Exchange Square plans would include a new Metrolink stop as part of the extension along Cross Street to Victoria station.

They will also mean changes to the layout of the area – including the steps and water feature – to help attract more shoppers to The Triangle.

The revamp would take up to three years if planning permission is granted.

The wheel was installed temporarily at Christmas 2004 and removed. It appeared again in 2006 and became a permanent fixture the following year after a campaign by the M.E.N.

We pushed for the wheel to be a permanent attraction after 90 per cent of people who took part in a phone poll and 62pc of those who responded to an online vote said it was ‘very important’ to keep the wheel.

Coun Pat Karney, the town hall’s city centre spokesman, said: "I will be meeting with the operators to go through all other options for the wheel in the city centre."

He denied the council wanted to lose the wheel and added: "We get a monthly rent from the attraction, and most cities in Europe have a big wheel so I’ll do my best to find a new location that suits all parties.

"The problem is the shortage of public spaces in the city centre. I’m prepared to talk with the operators about all locations, although Piccadilly Gardens would not be my first choice. It’s one of the more difficult locations because we use it for so many different events each year," he said.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1484342_big-wheel-in-manchester-could-move-to-edinburgh-after-it-is-taken-down-in-exchange-square

Cant they put it somehwere else in the city?

First street? ^^ loadsaroom

I think I've previously suggested First Street, makes a lot of sense to me.

If they have the sense to pull down the BBC building and include some public realm I think that would be a nice location also.

^^Been discussed a thousand times. There’s no Triangles, Printworks, Cinemas, Arndales, Selfridges and Harvey Nicks in those locations, which are attractive to tourists and whom are more likely to pay for it. First St will never ever be busy enough to justify it. Its right of the the edge of town. Almost as bad as Voldemortblacks suggestion of Pomona. It probably wont return.

The edge of town?

How about Spinningfields then? On the vacant plot next to the CJC perhaps. Or is that too much of a backwoods area?

Meh, just stick it in Albert Square.

Picadilly gardens?
Obviously not for ever but surely no harm would be done putting it there, plus the views would probably be better than previous.

The edge of town?

How about Spinningfields then? On the vacant plot next to the CJC perhaps. Or is that too much of a backwoods area?

Meh, just stick it in Albert Square.


Oh no no no not yer Bertie Square. The heritage militia will explode, the annual Irish and Xmas markets would be homeless, MCFC customers cum fans would have no home to celebrate winning the Charity Shield and by jeepers where would the likes of Sinead O'Connor perform during the next International festival?

Put it in Spinngfields and yes it will have a great view of Ordsall. Massive.

Land in the NQ and it will have the perfect vision of the Arndale.

Nah it ain't coming back.

I'm trying to think what the view would look like from the green in spinningfields, it would be mostly blocked looking toward Salford but into town it would be a good view wouldn't it?

Certainly better than the view of the Arndale roof you get now.

I quite like the idea of it being on Windmill Square in front of the convention centre, would look quite good next to Beetham on the skyline and it would sit well next to the curved roof of Manchester Central..

Having said that they would get more money by putting it in Piccadilly Gardens, more pedestrians etc. Whereabouts were they planning on putting it in Piccadilly Gardens?

On top of City Tower. Couldn’t get permission.

Aren't they creating new pedestrian public realm in front of the cathedral? Maybe the tunnels below would make that area a no go.

Anyway, I'm not a fan personally, I'd rather have something that everyone else doesn't have. I liked that idea of the viewing pod that was raised up a tower that was mooted a few years back.

I quite like the idea of it being on Windmill Square in front of the convention centre, would look quite good next to Beetham on the skyline and it would sit well next to the curved roof of Manchester Central..

Having said that they would get more money by putting it in Piccadilly Gardens, more pedestrians etc. Whereabouts were they planning on putting it in Piccadilly Gardens?

Although imagine this.

You have paid a small fortune for a room in the Midland.

Your lover lies radiant on the bed asleep.

You emerge fresh from a shower and......

Outside passing in the big wheel pod is a grinning Seasoned, Jrb, Lolkurtcat, volto and flange waving to you.

Karney told Andy Crane on BBC radio Manchester that Piccadilly Gardens was a non starter for the Big Wheel.

..

Although imagine this.

You have paid a small fortune for a room in the Midland.

Your lover lies radiant on the bed asleep.

You emerge fresh from a shower and......

Outside passing in the big wheel pod is a grinning Seasoned, Jrb, Lolkurtcat, volto and flange waving to you.

Karney told Andy Crane on BBC radio Manchester that Piccadilly Gardens was a non starter for the Big Wheel.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

...in front of the convention centre would be perfect. It could then double as a fitting memorial to the victims of the Peterloo Massacre in time for the 200th anniversary in 2019. Much better than a proper memorial that seems to have disappeared from the radar screen again.

I think that Pat Karney's comment about most European cities having a wheel and so it would be good for Manchester to retain one a bit bizarre. I thought that Manchester was supposed to be different...

Anyway, I hate it and I'll be glad to see it leaving Exchange/Millenium Square where it currently completely obliterates the proportions and takes up far too much room.

Would it fit at Great Northern Square?

Theres an article from 2007 saying the Trafford Centre were considering one of these wheels... they should just put a viewing platform up on Barton Bridge.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=544659

^^

Would it be possible for Peel to open an observation deck on top of the tower at Barton Square?

Was gonna say that, the Barton Square Campanile (bell tower) has been opened to the public before, but only for a charity abseil down the town.

Also it would need some major rebuilding of the tower, as I think it only has stairs up to the top of the tower, and as it is now there is not alot of space up there too.

This is the view available up there though.

http://thetraffordcentre.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/dsc_6922.jpg?w=300&h=199 http://thetraffordcentre.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/dsc_69301.jpg?w=300&h=199
Images from http://thetraffordcentre.wordpress.com/2009/02/06/snow-joke-at-the-trafford-centre/

The issue is of course is whether such a spinning trinket would be sufficiently profitable if it was slightly outside the main shopping and tourism area.

And then if it retained it's present size, the various hi risers would obscure it's view of the Greater conurbation and it's erm erm numerous delights.

Perhaps Jrb should write a message to Mr ADUG and ask if the good princes of the desert could perhaps locate a huge spinning gerbil cage next to the CoM.

Start at 165m akin to the one in Singapore.

Although imagine this.

You have paid a small fortune for a room in the Midland.

Your lover lies radiant on the bed asleep.

You emerge fresh from a shower and......

Outside passing in the big wheel pod is a grinning Seasoned, Jrb, Lolkurtcat, volto and flange waving to you.

Karney told Andy Crane on BBC radio Manchester that Piccadilly Gardens was a non starter for the Big Wheel.

Haha. The picture in my head is truly amazing. Although I have never seen them in my life my imagination seems to picture them with great detail.

A shot before we bid the wheel adieu.

http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/5866/manchester6thapril20120.jpg

When is it going? Do you think they'll show any of the Euro 2012 games on the big screen?

Here ya go Irish.

The Wheel in Exchange Square is due to be closed on Sunday, April 15th, at 6pm..

MEN

When is it going? Do you think they'll show any of the Euro 2012 games on the big screen?

Nope. Its against council policy to have a large congregation of uncontrolled alcohol and amassing of fans in any area of the city apart from Castlefield.

All thanks to Rangers.

Had another think about the suggestions about the wheel going to MCCC as proposed by my good pal Voldemortblack. I wonder how the guests at the Radisson and the residents at the Great Northern Tower would feel about all these tourists voyeuring into their personal space?

When is it going? Do you think they'll show any of the Euro 2012 games on the big screen?

Nope. Its against council policy to have a large congregation of uncontrolled alcohol and amassing of fans in any area of the city apart from Castlefield.

All thanks to Rangers.

Had another think about the suggestions about the wheel going to MCCC as proposed by my good pal Voldemortblack. I wonder how the guests at the Radisson and the residents at the Great Northern Tower would feel about all these tourists voyeuring into their personal space?

It's started to be dismantled & it's off to Edinburgh.

According to the BBC Euro 2012 games will be shown on the big screen:
Work has begun on dismantling a giant wheel in Manchester's Exchange Square to make way for Olympic events.

Great City Attractions, which operates the Manchester Wheel, said it had been unable to find an alternative site for the attraction.

Exchange Square is to be one of 22 national Olympic sites featuring a big screen showing live action.

The wheel, which opened in 2007, drew in about 500,000 visitors each year. It is to be moved to a site in Edinburgh.The square will open in "Olympics mode" on 26 July, when the first Olympic football match takes place at Old Trafford, and operate through to the closing ceremony on 12 August.

Exchange Square will also be the focus for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee screen events and Royal Opera House screenings.

The Uefa 2012 European Championships, Wimbledon, pre-Olympic Games test events and Paralympic Games will also be shown.Link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17733594)

Ah good, my friend is over from Germany to see the Stone Roses with me & he's football mad, so assuming Germany make it to the final on the Sunday it might be the place to watch it.

Has the wheel gone yet?

Almost.

I want to know what happened to their plans for bringing a new, even bigger wheel. Do they still want to do that? Is it just that they haven't found anywhere for it to go?

Well its on the way down !

Personally not a great loss but what about replacing it with a world class attraction, even Liverpool has a tin pot wheel ....hardly The London Eye,

Personally a panorama deck on the latest student scraper would be good, really think the developers are missing a trick there ! !

What would you do ?

Cheers man, but there already multiple discussions on this if you look around the site.

Its also not really a construction project since its coming down.

And a public observation deck on a private accommodation built. Don’t think so.

What would you do ?

I'd leave the area as it was. Nice and open. Great in summer.

Don't forget that they'll be a tram stop there in 2016.

Well its on the way down !

Personally not a great loss but what about replacing it with a world class attraction, even Liverpool has a tin pot wheel ....hardly The London Eye,

Personally a panorama deck on the latest student scraper would be good, really think the developers are missing a trick there ! !

What would you do ?

Someone’s on a wind up.

End of an era

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v621/golddigga19/72b1f133.jpg

^^ Good photo FA, as it shows just how much of the square was taken up by the wheel. I look foward to getting this back, although the tram line may affect the ambience. Maybe the car park behind the top of the cathderal car park in this shot, would be a good place for any new wheel if it has to return?

Anyone remember when the MEN had the polo mint rising tower on it's front page, but then it buggered off to Brighton instead, I assume nowt ever happened in the end? How about something like Spinnaker tower built on Boddy's or NOMA looking out over the whole city (I wish)...

No. These things can’t go in car parks. They don’t just take space or viewing perspectives into consideration. They need an area where people amass like a cultural, architectural icon like a Town Hall, or a major shopping area. Its a business after all, and like any business, custom will be its main priority. The wheel doesn’t attract anybody to it, the shops or the landmark do that job, and the wheel plays a supporting role.

^^ Good photo FA, as it shows just how much of the square was taken up by the wheel. I look foward to getting this back, although the tram line may affect the ambience. Maybe the car park behind the top of the cathderal car park in this shot, would be a good place for any new wheel if it has to return?

That car park has planning permission for two new office blocks, if they ever get built is another question.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1440059

Goo point Simo.

Seasoned, I'm hoping once the Medieval Quater is under way, along with the Chapel St regeneration that this will be a popular and attractive part of the city. It's hardly more peripheral to the city core than Cloud 23, so access should be good for the masses and the views up there are amazing.

It's worth a thought, because nothing has been decided re: a relocation.

Any way here's a couple of the last one 3/4s of the way down:

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0731.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0730.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0728.jpg

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x284/gshutty/IMAG0739.jpg

The polo tower lives in morecambe,the rotating thingy has been removed due to rot setting in,the only thing that remains of frontierland.
http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g433/jonesy3001/Stagecoach/27752.jpg

Nope. Its against council policy to have a large congregation of uncontrolled alcohol and amassing of fans in any area of the city apart from Castlefield.

All thanks to Rangers.

I'm certain this is due to England fans, not Rangers. I seem to recall the Council decided to move the showings to Castlefield after trouble during showings during the 2006 World Cup.

Nearly gone...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yRSZT0Ts_KY/T5GbKpFf_dI/AAAAAAAAAb0/w4lZ75Nxto0/s800/DSC_0896.JPG

Big Wheel in Exchange Square is dismantled – but will it return to Manchester?

April 20, 2012

NOW you see it... now you don’t. But you might see it again.

Manchester’s big wheel has now been fully dismantled piece by piece to make way for the summer’s Olympic celebrations.

The landmark has vanished from the city skyline after taking its last passenger last weekend.

Now only the final spokes remain – but council bosses hope the tourist attraction is just taking its own summer holiday.

They say it could yet return, although a home has not been found.

The 190ft wheel is being removed from Exchange Square so a giant screen can broadcast sporting events.

It will move to Edinburgh after six years in Manchester.

The wheel was installed temporarily for Christmas 2004, reappearing in 2006 for good, thanks to a campaign by the M.E.N.

Since then it has given around 3m passengers a bird’s eye view of Manchester and beyond.

City centre spokesman Coun Pat Karney said: “I’m really sad because it’s been part of the Manchester landscape and every estate agent in the city has used it as a symbol of modern Manchester.

“But it may not be the end. Obviously we have got the Olympics throughout the summer but I’d still be interested in chatting to them about long term plans in Manchester.”

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1491941_in-pictures-big-wheel-in-exchange-square-is-dismantled--but-will-it-return-to-manchester

I can't believe Manc had a big wheel in the first place. There's nothing outstanding to see from it.

The Wheel had run its course. I was never keen on it in the first place to be honest. I preferred Exchange Square without the wheel too, which was nearly a decade ago now so it will make a nice change. Also, seemed like a cheap, uninspired replication of the London Eye . Manchester can be more creative than that.

I can't believe Manc had a big wheel in the first place. There's nothing outstanding to see from it.

Oh go away and take your inferiority complex with you.

We all entitled to opinions without stupid infantile interventions !

Why on earth is a viewing/panarama deck such a crass idea ?
Express lift straight to the top would not effect the students on the intervening floors!

The wheel was OK but it wa hardly the London Eye !

I'm simply making the point that Manchedster as thee second largest tourist City in England after London (FACT) could do with could do with a unique "World Class Atttraction"

We all entitled to opinions without stupid infantile interventions !

Why on earth is a viewing/panarama deck such a crass idea ?
Express lift straight to the top would not effect the students on the intervening floors!

The wheel was OK but it wa hardly the London Eye !

I'm simply making the point that Manchedster as thee second largest tourist City in England after London (FACT) could do with could do with a unique "World Class Atttraction”

Yeah you are, but not stupid infantile suggestions. Its a ridiculous idea from the point of view of security. Now I wouldn’t want to speculate on the numbers of people who would come and see your wonderful ‘world class' attraction, but if you were living there, could you possibly imagine hundreds of people sharing the lobby of the halls of residence with other students, with extra security and possible screening due to the real purpose of the building, and the need for a designated elevator installed. Just no.

Personally ,I’d be highly disappointed as a tourist if I was directed down New Wakefield Street to this ‘world class’ attraction. Building a so called ‘world class’ attraction doesn’t make the city so. It makes it a tiny bit better. The city needs to be better, before the attractions get better.

Agreed. Let's improve on what we already have for the time being; transport, shopping etc. We also need hundreds more apartments and lots more office space and student accommodation. Let's bulk up first before we open the floodgates.

Clearly tourism here is doing just fine on its own seeing as were the second most visited in England by foreign and domestic visitors.

Whilst they're everywhere these days, this did look incredible lit up at night, especially when arriving by train into Victoria. Saying that, when I did go on it some years ago I was a little underwhelmed at the view.

If you'd kept your big wheel for just a few days longer you might have been able to see the giants of Liverpool in the "Sea Odyssey".

I'm sure there would've been a better view from Cloud 23 and above anyway!

It's good to finally have the space back.

http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/7270/manchester26thapril2012.jpg

Agreed, it never should've been taken away in the first place.

The Beauty Of Absence: Exchange Square Comes Clean

Jonathan Schofield on wide open spaces and the lost and brilliant Hulme Guide to Development

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/i/J8G/4ZX8_M.jpg

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/The-Beauty-Of-Absence