Plymouth Hoe's big wheel stops turning two months early
THE Hoe's 'Plymouth Eye' is set to be dismantled and hauled away after it unexpectedly stopped turning more than two months early.
Mystery surrounds the reasons behind the sudden closure of the popular attraction – and council chiefs say they have been unable to contact the wheel's owners, amusements firm Shipley Investments Ltd.
In August The Herald reported how Birmingham-based Great City Attractions Global Limited, which brought the 53-metre structure to Plymouth last summer, had gone into administration and ceased trading. Shipley Investments Ltd, which is based in nearby Dudley, in the West Midlands, reclaimed the structure prior to administration and brought in a new operator, The Hall Organisation Ltd.
At the time, the administrators for Great City Attractions Global, Leicester-based G2 Insolvency Limited, told The Herald that efforts had been made to find additional investment to save the core business.
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In April this year The Herald reported how Great City Attractions had been granted permission by the council to keep the wheel running until December 31.
A spokesman for Plymouth City Council said: "Over the last few months the council has been working on arrangements to support the attraction in Plymouth.
"We were keen to see this attraction remain in the city and had hoped that the new operators, The Hall Organisation Ltd, would continue here. Yesterday, we were advised by The Hall Organisation that the wheel has now stopped trading. We understand that the wheel will be removed from site by the owner, Shipley Investments.
"We are trying to contact the investment company to find out when this will be."
Deputy council leader Cllr Peter Smith, said: "This is a real shame as the wheel was a striking addition to the skyline of Plymouth.
"I know that our officers have been working very hard behind the scenes to do everything in their power to help this company.
"Unfortunately this is now out of our hands."
The Herald contacted The Hall Organisation Ltd and G2 Insolvency Ltd but the firms did not reply.
No-one at Shipley Investments Ltd could be contacted on the advertised number.
Comments
by CharlieDodd
Friday, October 12 2012, 6:14PM
“I never did go on it because i didn't want to risk being barbecued in one of its greenhouse-like cabins if it conked out on a hot day and left me stranded high in the air "where never lark nor eagle flew".
It was also beginning to look a bit cheap and tatty after dark with many bulbs burnt out.”
by marc1964
Friday, October 12 2012, 5:17PM
“Well i am surprised it lasted this long with the price it is , I was on the hoe last weekend and a bus load of tourisits all blanked it due to cost . Rip of britan at its best / Worst”
by glasshalffull
Friday, October 12 2012, 5:09PM
“Darn it. I was determined to go on this before it disappeared at the end of the year and I've missed my chance.
Expensive - yes. But then so are most of these types of attractions. I'm sure the views from the top can't be easily bettered.”
by ChezGuevara
Friday, October 12 2012, 4:39PM
“Singing 'The Wheels on the bus go round and round' on the School bus is just a nice way of telling the schoolkids that the brakes have failed.
This wheel won't be going around anymore. The Company in charge of it have failed and gone bust no doubt.”
by Nevman
Friday, October 12 2012, 3:24PM
“I'm sure there's a metaphor here somewhere.”
by philofbudo
Friday, October 12 2012, 2:16PM
“The entry fee was on the high side, but I didn't think it was extortionate. The photos (if you opted to buy these) were very much over-priced though.
I also nearly got ripped off. When I went to pay, I was given a hand-held card machine and entered my details only to be told the transaction had failed. Reluctantly, I put my PIN in again. You've guessed it, when I checked with my bank, I had been charged twice. I managed to get the second payment refunded after a bit of hassle, but I wonder how many people got double-charged and either never checked their statements or weren't in a position to go back and sort it out?
Glad I went on it once - wasn't likely to go again.”
by plymouth247
Friday, October 12 2012, 12:30PM
“There were never 30 staff working at this wheel. Not even when it was first opened. The company ended up leaving 7 members of staff redundant as they made a sudden decision to leave without any warning. The company were never happy to spend money and didn't even advertise! They wouldn't reduce the cost because they were still getting business on their other wheels at the price. Barry I like your idea but I assure you, the staff will be first to do that if they need to!”
by BarryBT
Friday, October 12 2012, 12:23PM
“Given it's been abandoned, lets all dismantle it and take it in for scrap metal. We will get loads of dosh which can be ploughed into some new grass!”
by Winstonsmith0
Friday, October 12 2012, 12:03PM
“The Plymouth I.O.U.
Let's hope the company responsible can find enough cash to make good the damage it will have caused to the park where it sits. Hands up those who think local taxpayers will foot the bill anyway!
What goes around . . . stops when it reaches Plymouth!”
by DJANGO6421
Friday, October 12 2012, 10:56AM
“Total waste of space,these thing have appeared everywhere since the London eye was built. Poor imitation. No great loss.”