Wheel fight Docks fairground plan

People living in Gloucester Docks have hit out at plans for a huge Ferris wheel to be put up this summer.

A protest group has been set up in response to the application by British Waterways for the 35m high structure to go up next to the Victoria Dock from June 5 until August 16, every day from 8am to 8pm.

They say the tourist attraction will ruin the views from their flats in four-storey block The Barge Arm. Residents fear they will be disturbed by noise and think 10 weeks is too long.

Wayne Tuckwell is setting up the group, which has set up its own website and will be putting a petition on the 10 Downing Street website.

He said: “The main concerns are that it’s going to ruin the view from our flats. People will also be able to see right into my flat as it has got big windows.”

The 29-year-old says he is also worried that with more people visiting the area there will be a potential for crime to go up.

He said: “I’m all for trying to increase the economy of the city and county in bringing more people in but I just think this is a bad idea. It’s the wrong way of doing it.

“I would be happy with three to five days tops in a week. We accept there are going to be events going on there. You can accept events which are only for a week end or maybe a little bit longer but not for ten weeks.”

Keith Reade, who owns a cruiser in the docks is supporting the protest group. He said: “People paid a lot of money for those flats. I really do sympathise that someone is going to put that outside their window.

“To have somebody going by your living room window isn’t really on. You have got to make a stand somewhere.”

The planning statement, which can be viewed on the Gloucester City Council website says: “We have taken onboard concerns from residents and have tried to move the proposed wheel as far from the majority of them as possible, taking into account ground conditions and immovable objects such as the Crane mounting.”

The protest group’s website can be viewed at www.fightheferriswheel.co.uk