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Will a 'Salford Eye' be added to the Quays skyline?
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An eye in the sky?
Ailsa Cranna6/ 3/2008
SALFORD could put a spoke in Manchester’s Eye with a bigger ferris wheel becoming a permanent fixture on the city’s skyline.
Fairground boss Henry Hill says he has been in talks with city leisure chiefs about setting up a big wheel - possibly at Salford Quays.
Henry, whose company North West Fun Fairs managed the magenta skating rink and fairground in front of Swinton Civic Centre last Christmas, said it would be an ‘honour’ to run the attraction.
He said: "We started having talks with the council about the possibility of a Salford Eye when we were setting up the Winter Wonderland event at Christmas.
"I said I would be proud to run it. Manchester’s got one, and it’s about time that Salford had one too - after all, Salford was a city long before Manchester was, and we should be celebrating that fact.
"Of course, we would have to consult all councillors and the public before going forward, and where to put the Eye is a major decision.
"A possible site would be Salford Quays, but there must be other places more central to the city."
He said that the Salford Eye must be bigger and better than Manchester’s, which is 60 metres high (180ft), weighs 300 tons and has 42 gondolas, including a VIP one, complete with leather seats and a cocktail cabinet.
His enthusiasm for the project has met with a guarded response from Salford council, however.
Deputy leader for Salford council, Councillor David Lancaster, said: "A temporary big wheel was informally suggested as the main attraction for our Winter Wonderland celebrations last Christmas but, in the end, we went for a skating rink.
"We haven’t been formally approached about the idea of having a permanent big wheel, nor have we had any further discussions about it."
Councillor Karen Garrido, Tory group leader, said: "Oh, for goodness sake, whatever next? Why are we trying to compete with Manchester all the time?
"We need to get the basics right in Salford - such as filling in the potholes on our roads."
Lib Dem leader Norman Owen added: "I accept that we need something but before we rush headlong into this we need to know how much it would cost, and whether the people of Salford are behind it."
Most recent 2 of 6 user comments
4/04/2008 at 16:51
Got an opinion you want to share?Motorists - are rising fuel prices tempting you to use public transport more?
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I should make three points about the word "conservative":
(1) in Christian terms, 'conservative' denotes that I hold to orthodox 'conservative' theology and interpretations of the Bible - as opposed to 'liberal theology';
(2) in political terms much of my core political ideology is reasonably attributable to traditional right-of-centre 'conviction politics' conservatism. [I am essentially a trad Tory in the mould of W.C. (but bang up to date for 2008!)]
(3) For the record I should state that I am not a member of the Conservative Party (although I have previously and briefly been a member). Indeed I am not presently a member of any political party.
7/04/2008 at 12:25