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£5000

Mark Devenport | 13:28 UK time, Friday, 21 December 2007

How much the Social Development Department paid towards the planning costs associated with the Big Wheel outside Belfast City Hall. The rest of the costs have been met by the World Tourist Attraction Company.

It's certainly given the City Hall Christmas Village a more striking backdrop this year. So was it money well spent?

°ä´Ç³¾³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õÌýÌý Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 03:22 PM on 21 Dec 2007,
  • Conor wrote:

Right enough, I was strolling past the Big Wheel the other day in something of a nostalgic mood, thinking how marvellous it would look if it had a big letter N to the left of it. Just for old times' sake, you understand. Perhaps it could incorporate some sort of slippery slope.

  • 2.
  • At 05:00 PM on 21 Dec 2007,
  • Brian Patterson wrote:

Hi Mark,

Good work over the year and best wishes to you and your colleagues over the Christmas and New Year period. Your blog is a great idea - very good work and keep it up.

Not to be a pedant but there is a typo above - meant should have been "met".

MARK REPLIES: Thanks Brian will amend accordingly

  • 3.
  • At 05:18 PM on 21 Dec 2007,
  • Kevin Burns wrote:

Personally, I think it's a bit gaudy looking. Belfast shouldn't fool itself into thinking it's a great tourist desintaiton - money can't really buy culture.

  • 4.
  • At 02:01 AM on 22 Dec 2007,
  • Belfast Gonzo wrote:

Been on the Big Wheel twice now, once by day with the family - which made me realise just how close to the sea we are, watching the ferries come in - and the second time by night on a work Xmas do to see the city lights.

Well worth £6.

  • 5.
  • At 11:02 PM on 23 Dec 2007,
  • RJ wrote:

Yes. It's brilliant. I took the family up last month and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well, the family enjoyed it. I was crapping myself while my 3 year old tried to kick the door open at the top so he could get a better look at the buses below. Then when I grabbed him in a panic the little pod shook far more than I found comfortable. This made him laugh and me crap myself some more. In all seriousness though, I liked it and it gives you a view of Belfast you're not likely to get anywhere else.

Can I also say, I have to disagree with Kevin Burns. I think Belfast is a decent enough tourist destination. Must be a nightmare living there though.

  • 6.
  • At 01:08 PM on 25 Dec 2007,
  • Mizpah wrote:


In all reality, the centre of Belfast is a village compared to other cities it boasts access to at the local airports. We do not need something larger than the population requires but - yes - it is good to keep our mouths shut when showing Americans or Europeans around.

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