A GIANT Ferris wheel is to be built in Princes Street Gardens this summer under radical plans unveiled today. The Evening News can reveal that the city council is in advanced talks with a private firm that wants to put a 60 metres-tall wheel in East Princes Street Gardens, close to the entrance of the cafe/restaurant at the National Galleries of Scotland.

It is hoped that the wheel – roughly the same height as the Scott Monument – will be in place by May and operate for five months until October, before being dismantled and taken away. Council chiefs estimate that the attraction could bring £1.4 million of extra spending to Edinburgh over the five-month period, as well as providing a boost to footfall in and around Princes Street at a time when many traders are feeling the pinch.

IT has stood proudly atop an extinct volcanic rock since the 12th century. But now there are fears that classic views of Edinburgh Castle are about to be ruined by a giant ferris wheel. The city council, which has agreed to lease out part of Princes Street Gardens to accommodate the 60-metre tall attraction, has been urged to find an alternative home for it to avoid impact on the city’s most famous landmark.

Historic Scotland, the government agency responsible for the castle, has warned planners that the wheel will “dominate” a string of views of the castle and other listed buildings, such as two churches and the Ross Fountain in the gardens. It has stepped in just weeks after protesting against controversial plans to erect giant Olympic Rings on Edinburgh Castle for most of this year and forcing them to be relocated.

THE body responsible for protecting Edinburgh’s world heritage site has demanded a giant ferris wheel earmarked for the capital’s Princes St Gardens is moved to either the Meadows or Inverleith Park to avoid damaging famous views of the castle. The Edinburgh World Heritage Trust has broken its silence on the prospect of a 60-metre attraction being located in front of Edinburgh Castle rock just days before councillors are due to make a decision.

The city council is facing a mounting rebellion from heritage bodies over the prospect of the wheel attraction being operated from April through to October. However, despite protests from other heritage bodies, planning officials have recommended that the wheel is given the go-ahead because it is only a temporary structure.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to erect a giant wheel attraction in Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens have been given the go-ahead for six months - despite it being branded a “ludicrous” and “stupid” location by some councillors. Historic Scotland, Edinburgh World Heritage and the Cockburn Association had all expressed fears about the wheel blocking views of Edinburgh Castle and other listed buildings.

A private operator agreed a £50,000 deal several months ago to lease out part of the west gardens, near the Ross Fountain, for the 60-metre tall attraction, although this works out at just £277 a day. However the council still needed to get permission from its own planning committee, only two members of which voted against the wheel staying from the beginning of May until the end of October.

CONTROVERSIAL plans to install a giant ferris wheel into one of Edinburgh’s most popular beauty spots have been thrown into disarray because of problems building the structure. The 60-metre tall wheel, which was due to start running by the end of April, has been postponed indefinitely because the operator cannot get the city’s answer to the London Eye into Princes Street Gardens.

Business leaders in the city have been told the “Edinburgh Wheel” venture, which was supposed to be open until 10pm every day until the end of October, may be scrapped unless a solution can be found. Last night the city council, which struck a lucrative deal with a West Midlands-based firm to rent out a site near the Ross Bandstand, was unable to confirm if the deal was still on.