Big wheel was in the ‘wrong place’ admits city centre organiser

Jan 5 2012 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

wheel

CHESTER’S Christmas wheel was ‘in the wrong place’ to attract massive crowds, admit organisers.

As the big wheel was finally dismantled on Tuesday after almost four weeks at St Martin’s Mount, organisers admitted the 100ft wheel had not been as successful as last year.

Despite the Christmas market and helter skelter drawing crowds to the city centre shops, organisers of Chester’s festive celebrations said the wheel was simply ‘too isolated’ behind the bus station to draw shoppers browsing the stalls.

The news comes after six people had to be rescued by firefighters when they became stuck in the air when the wheel malfunctioned on Monday.

Fire crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tilted the wheel, which is a safe rescue device, to help down the people who were in two separate carriages when the wheel stopped mid-turn.

Commenting as the wheel was dismantled late after strong winds prevented owners safely taking it down, Chester city manager Stephen Wundke heralded the Christmas festivities as a ‘great success’ but said it would have been better if the stalls and wheel had been in one place.

“Generally speaking people have been very positive about the entire thing. People went mental when we said we the wheel wasn’t going to be coming back, we managed to get one as big as we could safely fit on that site,” said Mr Wundke.

“We did not have any choice on a site for the wheel, we couldn’t use the one near the court like last year. We have had a better winter this year than last year, but people enjoyed going up and seeing the city in the snow, they don’t want to go up in a carriage in winds and rain.”

Mr Wundke said the owner of the wheel was positive about how many people had ridden in the carriages, but that he was unable to provide figures for the ride.

“There was no way as many people were going to ride on the wheel as last year because it was isolated from the rest of the festivities. It really needed to be all together in front of the Town Hall.

“Having the Christmas market in the city centre has been a great success, it brought increased footfall and local traders have given positive feedback. But we want to get bigger and better every year”