Plans to bring a giant, illuminated observation wheel with “breath-taking views” to Southport have been approved.
The 34-metre high wheel will be the highest accessible vantage-point near the seafront, and will offer long-ranging, wide-vista views to passengers in its series of fully accessible six-person glass pods.
It would be built on the edge of the Marine Lake, near Princes Park, creating views across the coast and also across the lake. Construction would follow the demolition of the eyesore former toilet block on the edge of Princes Park, which has been closed and vandalised for a number of years.
Its LED lighting can be tailored to offer spectacular, eye-catching displays which will be reflected in the lake’s waters after dark.
Proposals to build a new bistro over the top of part of the Southport Pleasureland Miniature Railway were also approved.
The plans were submitted to Sefton Council by Universal Rides, owned by Norman Wallis, who operates Southport Pleasureland and Southport Pleasureland Miniature Railway.
When he unveiled his plans, he said: ““The wheel is a real show-stopper and I think the town deserves a landmark feature of this calibre and we believe it will be incredibly popular.
“The views will be breath-taking and the observation wheel itself will be able to be clearly seen when approaching the town.
“This fabulous iconic feature will give people yet another reason to stop and admire the sea views – and make a hugely positive addition to Southport’s visitor appeal.”
Sefton Council has granted Temporary Consent for the next three years, until 1st January 2025, during which time council officers will assess the operation of the observation wheel and its impact “on historic and landscape character”.
Another condition made by the council was to limit the operation of the observation wheel and the bistro to no longer than 9am until midnight.
In his report, Sefton Council Chief Planning Officer Derek McKenzie said: “In terms of the skyline when viewed from or along key routes such as Promenade there are few structures save for the Marine Parade bridge that interrupt this rather flat and low lying landscape.
“Views are had from these areas across the gardens and towards the leisure development at Ocean Plaza and this proposal will introduce an observation wheel with a maximum height above ground level of 34m, with the diameter of the wheel itself being 32m.
“This will be clearly visible from many vantage points and will therefore have an impact on the established landscape character of this area.
“The council’s conservation officers acknowledge these impacts on the historic and landscape character but consider that the design of the wheel and the use of a spoked framework ‘should maintain partial views through the structure’ and they also note that the temporary permission sought could allow a full and comprehensive judgement of these impacts to be undertaken while the wheel is in situ.
“In respect of the associated bistro building, this is of a scale and form that echoes the public convenience to be lost (box with a flat roof) and would not be detrimental to the historic or landscape character.
“It is considered appropriate to grant a temporary consent, to last for three years, so as to allow the impacts of the proposal on historic and landscape character to be fully assessed.”
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