Edinburgh residents react to controversial Ferris wheel plans in Princes Street Gardens

Edinburgh Evening News

Following news that organisers behind Edinburgh’s Christmas market had lodged plans to have the seasonal big wheel in place at East Prince Street Gardens for most of the year, we asked locals for their opinions.

Transcript

00:00I don't think we need it.

00:02I think it being plonked where it is, it kind of ruins the skyline a little bit.

00:07The tourists like it. I don't.

00:10I thought that that was something that we didn't really need.

00:29You know, there's viewpoints in Edinburgh where you don't have to go very far to see what the city's about.

00:37You just need to walk up a hill, and we have many hills.

00:40And I think that's part of the charm of Edinburgh, the walks that you can get to see the viewpoints and see over the city.

00:48And I don't think we need it.

00:51And apart from that, it's incredibly expensive.

00:55There's not many families can afford 30, 40 quid to have a burl round on the big wheel.

01:02So no, I don't think we need it.

01:04I think with regards to bringing more things for tourists to be able to do in the city,

01:10and kind of bring more eyes on the city, I think is a good thing.

01:13However, I'm a tour guide.

01:16Bringing tourists around, I think it being plonked where it is, it kind of ruins the skyline a little bit.

01:23I know I've had multiple comments from tourists saying the W Hotel and things and sort of controversial things like that,

01:29kind of ruin that kind of historical skyline.

01:31And I think having a big wheel in the middle.

01:33But you see places like the Millennial Wheel in London and things are really successful.

01:38And that brings a lot of eyes to the city.

01:40And I think that can maybe only be a good thing.

01:42So it's a bit of a balance there, really, I think.

01:45It's not a pretty sight.

01:47But Edinburgh is a tourist city, and we have to look after the tourists.

01:51The charge of fortune was at 20 quid to have a shot in that wheel.

01:55People seem to be paying it.

01:56People seem to be paying it.

01:57Over Christmas, it was packed out.

01:59It did very well.

02:01Edinburgh depends on its tourism.

02:03Obviously, it depends on its banking and its insurance as well.

02:05But it depends on its tourism.

02:07They have to have a tourism offering.

02:09Go along to Princes Street.

02:10How many tourist tax shops can you see in Princes Street?

02:12So the fact of the matter is, I think you might just have to live with the fact that the tourists like it.

02:18I don't.

02:20You know, if you take a look around you, on both sides of the gardens,

02:24there's absolutely nothing that we need.

02:26Where else could you get a view like that?

02:30We've got everything.

02:32And it's big and it's shiny, and it should be kept to Christmas because Christmas is big and shiny.

02:37But during the summertime, I don't think we need it at all.

02:40It adds nothing to the city.

02:42Well, it might add a wee bit to the city,

02:44but it certainly does absolutely nothing to enhance the gardens and what we've got here right now.

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