Big wheel to spin into town at Easter

THE operator of a proposed big wheel in Stratford-upon-Avon has expressed his surprise the controversial project has been given the go ahead but confirmed the first spin of the wheel will be in Easter next year.

Jan de Koning, managing director of the De Koning Leisure Group told the Herald he thought the decision was “50 – 50” before Stratford District Council western area planning committee discussed the observation wheel at a heated public debate in Stratford on Wednesday evening. The application was agreed by five votes to two.

“I was surprised. There’s been a lot of adverse opinion about the observation wheel but I think people will grow to like it. We had hoped to have it operating by the school holidays but that’s too ambitious so we are now looking at next Easter as a start date,” Jan de Koning said.

But it will need some charm offensive to convince the majority of Stratfordians that a 34 metre observation wheel is good for the town as many locals have branded the decision as “disgraceful.”