Councillors approve plans to install observation wheel in Alexandra Gardens

An application for a new observation wheel in Alexandra Gardens has been approved by the council. 

Last in Windsor in 2012, the wheel will be temporarily installed between March and September, with a refreshment kiosk sitting alongside it on a decked area.

The attraction will be open to the public from Friday, March 22 until Monday, September 2, between 11am and 9pm at the weekends and on holidays and between 1pm and 9pm during off-peak weekdays.

During the discussion at a meeting of the Windsor and Ascot Development Management Committee at York House last night (Thursday), councillors raised both concerns and the benefits that the observation wheel would bring to the town – including a boost for the local economy, businesses in the town and tourism and the enhancement of the visitor experience. 

Some of the other concerns included the affect it would have on events taking place in Alexandra Gardens.

Councillors also questioned the length of recovery time in Alexandra Gardens seeing there is only three months between the observation wheel being taken doing and the Windsor on Ice rink being installed. 

Cllr Alison Carpenter (TBFI, Clewer and Dedworth East), said: “The park is supposed to be used for our residents and people to visit and it's supposed to be a beautiful area, I’m just worried that they will lose that because there will be a big wheel stuck in [there] when they’re trying to have their picnics and things like that.

“I’m not sure that having a great big wheel there is enhancing the views for everyone that’s using the park.”

Jo Richards, team leader in development management at the Royal Borough said that both planning officers and conservation officers consider ‘that the impact of this proposal is very limited in terms of the impact on heritage assets’. 

Some of the benefits mentioned included a boost for the local economy, businesses in the town and tourism and the enhancement of the visitor experience.

Cllr Julian Sharpe (Con, Ascot and Sunninghill), said: “I just see advantages to the town overall of having this cycle of different attractions for people to come to. 

“They’re new and because they're only temporary, people are going to go to them and enjoy them whilst they're there and then they disappear and something else pops up. 

“Obviously an open park like Alexandra Gardens provides an ideal environment for them because it's safe and tucked away and there's no traffic around and about so there are many, many advantages of it.

“I think despite the reservations that people might have had, I think this is actually a good way forward for the town.”

The overall vote saw the committee grant planning permission, in line with the officer recommendation.