Yorkshire Wheel is the name used by two transportable Ferris wheel installations at different locations in York, England.
The first installation was at the National Railway Museum, and operated from 12 April 2006 until 2 November 2008.
The second installation, in the grounds of The Royal York Hotel, opened to the public on 13 December 2011.
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The Wheel was originally intended to be placed in the Tower Gardens on the other side of the River Ouse, opposite Cliffords Tower; however, because of residents' protests, the NRM site was preferred by the City of York Council. Planning permission was for three years.
In its first six months, the wheel carried 200,000 passengers.[1]
It was the first observation wheel of its kind in North Yorkshire, and was inspired by the London Eye which opened a few years earlier. At 54 metres (177 ft), it was somewhat smaller than the 135 metres (443 ft) of the London Eye, but could be no higher than York Minster, York's skyline height limit.
The operation of the Wheel differed from that of the London Eye: visitors on the Wheel were allowed several rotations, and the wheel stopped to load and unload passengers. It had 42 pods, including a VIP pod with glass floor, screen, radio, and leather interior. Like the rest of the Railway Museum, it was licensed as a venue for weddings, and weddings did indeed take place there. Speed dating on St. Valentine's Day in 2007 also took place.
Norwich Union, which has its headquarters in York, were the sponsors of the Wheel, but that ended in late July 2007, after which the White Rose of York was added to the Wheel's centre.
On the Wheel's first anniversary, it was reported to have completed 32,500 revolutions.[2]
In March 2008, tourist chiefs for the city called for the Wheel to become a permanent fixture beyond its three years.[3]
On 27 August 2008, the local newspaper The Press reported that the Wheel might be moved to another site in the city,[4] although a day later the opposition of conservation groups was noted.[5]
The Wheel turned for its final time in its original location on Sunday 2 November 2008,[6] and World Tourist Attractions began dismantling it on Monday 3 November 2008.
In December 2008 local media announced that plans would be put forward "within weeks" for the relocation of the wheel to the riverside.[7]
A news article in the local York newspaper on 10 January 2009 stated that 42 per cent of local people backed the wheel being relocated to the North Street site in the centre of the city.[8]
The York Press reported on 20 January 2009 that local councillors had rejected the relocation of the wheel,[9] though talks were still ongoing on 20 February 2009,[10] and on 10 March 2009 the paper reported a possible move to another site, St. George's Field car park, though councillors had still not agreed to the move,[11] though the talks passed their first stage by 18 March.[12]
A York Press report on 10 July 2009 stated that there had been many objections to the relocation of the wheel, and that it may never return to the city.[13]
Plans for the return of the wheel were withdrawn on 14 July 2009.[14]
On 2 December 2010 the York Press announced that the wheel was set to return to York, ready to be up and running by 2011.[15]
The wheel finally looked set for a return in news announced in October 2011.[16]
After construction in The Royal York Hotel gardens was delayed for a few days by high winds, Great City Attractions Global opened the 53-metre (174 ft) tall wheel to the public at 4:45 pm on Tuesday 13 December 2011.[17]
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