‘It’ll turn Windsor Castle into a theme park,’ say furious residents as ‘intrusive’ 35m-high ferris wheel is built
A FERRIS wheel next to Windsor Castle will bring “hordes” of people to the area, say residents.
Locals are fuming as the 115 foot Ferris wheel is set to be erected only weeks after an ice rink was in the Windsor park.
The local council is desperately short of cash and is set to profit from the tourist attraction.
Riders of the wheel in the Alexandra Gardens will get a good view of the 950-year-old royal residence and the Thames River as they climb.
Across the road from the where the Ferris wheel will sit is an apartment building housing OAPs incensed at the decision by the council to approve it.
Resident Carol Mackenzie told The Sun she was “so angry” when the council granted it permission as she won’t be able to open her windows in the heat of summer.
She said the wheel’s power generators will vibrate her building and riders at the top of the wheel will be able to look directly into residents’ homes.
“I just thought it was intrusion, it [the Ferris wheel] will just attract so many people.
“You don’t want to see hordes of people.”
Carol said she wanted the park back as she remembered it, with lovely flower beds and a place she could picnic.
Windsor local and blogger Jon Davey, 58, said the Ferris wheel was turning the area outside Windsor Castle into a theme park.
“Look at it today, it’s dry people want to hang out in the park, if you’ve got a Ferris wheel sitting there they are going to be taking over.
“It’d be better if it wasn’t there.”
The ex-councillor on the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council said there was a fifty-fifty split in the community.
Davey said those in favour of the park wanted it because the council is “skint”.
He said: “This is a way to make a few quid… the impact on local residents is far greater, but the council is in a financial strap.”
At maximum, the wheel could see 400,000 people ride it over the six-month period, but it is likely to see far less with operators expecting a 30 per cent occupancy rate.
The 144 seat wheel was approved by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council on January 8.
The operator, Roses Pleasure Parks, was also approved to build a food and drink stall for the tens of thousands of people it hopes to sell to.
It is set to operate from March 22 to September 2 and will cost adults £8 for three rotations.
Retiree Sally Shanly described the wheel as an “upheaval” to residents’ lives and the park would be left looking like a “mudbath” after constant use.
She said: “When are we going to be able to use it [the park]?
“You’d get just as many tourists coming here without it.
“It’s very disturbing when you get to our age… It brings in a lot of riff raff.”
The Windsor and Eton Society supported residents’ concerns.
It said: “The extensive period during which the Observation wheel, together with associated equipment and facilities, is proposed to be installed, operational and then removed from Alexandra Gardens extends over the whole Spring and Summer.
“That period is a time when residents and visitors habitually enjoy being in the lovely surroundings of the gardens.
“Many people bring balls and picnics to enjoy in this park – a pleasant recreational, leisure and green space in the centre of Windsor, immediately adjacent to the Windsor Town Centre Conservation Area.”
Wheel operator Roses Pleasure Parks said it would be paying the council either £30,000 or giving 10 per cent of the profit.
They said: “Alexandra Gardens is uniquely positioned alongside the Coach Park and railway station in that it is seen by residents and visitors to Windsor using public transport, as well as members of the public on foot.
“Any attraction built in Alexandra Gardens is a great draw to the visiting public and we feel an Observation Wheel will draw a lot of tourists to Alexandra Gardens, during the summer months, as it will offer a unique view of the town of Windsor and the Castle itself that cannot otherwise be seen from the ground.
“Along with benefits to the Council this will also benefit local businesses from the increased footfall to the area.”
The council is currently is dire financial straits with expected budget blowouts over the next few years.
In a 2023 press release it said: “The council will need to think boldly and innovatively about the way in which it delivers services, brings in income and supports economic growth.”
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council and Roses Pleasure Parks was approached for comment.
What are your rights in this situation?
All planning permissions are made public, so you can see exactly what your neighbour or someone in your community is up to before work starts.
You are able to make an objection within a certain time frame if you don’t want the construction to go ahead.
However, the council do not exclusively listen to members of the community and balance their views against those of their own and other interest groups.
Those opposing the application have a better chance if they are organised, have plenty of support, and if the application breaches other community restrictions.