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29
Apr
'Nothing of this size has ever been seen in Ripon city centre'
The giant wheel that dominated Ripon's skyline for more than three weeks may have stopped turning but its impact on the city could live on.
The 33-metre high attraction carried almost 9,000 passengers during its 23-day operation on Market Square, which ended on Sunday (April 27).
Footfall figures have yet to be revealed but Lilla Bathurst, manager of the business support organisation Ripon BID, which brought the wheel to Ripon, said the attraction proved popular with traders as well as people who came to ride it.
She told the Stray Ferret:
The businesses were happy, the customers were pleased and it created a real buzz, as nothing of this size and scale has ever been seen in Ripon city centre and it beautifully filled the space between the obelisk and Ripon Town Hall for the many people who came to photograph it.
With the exposure that the Big Sky Wheel and other activities generated over the Easter holiday period, Ripon has been punching above its weight and we are hopeful that this will encourage more visitors to come to see what we have to offer, with up-coming events including the VE 80th anniversary celebrations.
A night time photo of the wheel taken from Kirkgate. Pic Ken Ferguson
The attention-grabbing wheel, which was funded by North Yorkshire Council, has now been dismantled and removed from Ripon Market Square.
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