by Jonathan Paisley, Evening Times
A giant £5million London Eye-style wheel is set to open at
Braehead before Christmas.
The 130ft attraction, which will offer stunning views down the
Clyde, will take just 10 days to construct on the banks of the
river.
As revealed in the Evening Times earlier this month, operators
World Tourist Attractions have been granted permission to site the
wheel outside the Clydebuilt Maritime Museum for an initial period
of six months.
It will feature 30 capsules capable of carrying eight people
each and will operate from 9am to midnight, seven days a week.
Tickets are likely to cost £6 for adults and £4.50 for
concessions while visitors will also be able to book VIP gondolas
and champagne for around £60.
The main parts of the wheel will be made in Germany before being
shipped over and slotted together at Braehead in early
December.
Nigel Ward, the Glasgow-born chief executive of World Tourist
Attractions, said: "We are confident it will prove a big hit with
shoppers.
"We have been in talks with the owners of Braehead for more than
a year because the site offers unrivalled views of the Clyde, the
former shipyards and all the way down to Loch Lomond."
It will be the 10th wheel of its kind in the world and the first
in Scotland.
The backers operate similar attractions at Windsor, Hyde Park,
Manchester and York as well as in Australia and India.
Renfrewshire Council chiefs have given scope to extend the
licence for another three years, if the attraction is a
success.
Reproduced with the permission of The Evening Times (Glasgow) ©
Newsquest (Herald & Times) Ltd.