It looks like the huge Wheel of Plymouth is set to stop turning at the end of the year. Locals and tourists will be sad to see it go :(. The wheel had become a landmark on the Plymouth Hoe drawing in thousands of visitors.
Operator Great City Attractions has been granted permission to keep it running until December 31 this year.
But Plymouth City Council planners have insisted the structure is removed and the land restored to its previous condition by January 7 next year.
The Herald revealed, last year, how a design team, including AWW and engineers from Plymouth’s Jubb Consulting Engineers Limited, was drawing up plans for a pier which could contain leisure space, fine dining and corporate entertainment, a conference centre and a monorail link to the first floor, over a pedestrian walkway. There is also the prospect the pier could accommodate small to medium-sized cruise ships, and act as a landing stage for tenders from larger ocean liners and for other vessels. The proposed five-storey structure could also include a marine energy hub, with a floating lab under the pier, rising and falling with the tide, and generating energy which could be used to provide some of the pier’s power supply.
Read more about this story here on the thisisplymouth website…
Dean and Simone Singer and their company Singer Inns & Tarvens, have stepped in to take the lease of the Waterfront bar and restaurant located at West Hoe. The restaurant location is perfect for summer, but has caused headaches for previous landlords during the winter seasons.
Mr Singer’s company is basing the business plan around encouraging people in during winter too and a “value for money” food offer which will see “restaurant quality at pub prices”, with food ordered at the bar during the day and table service at night.
Mr Singer said it will also open a coffee bar called The Bean Machine.
“It’s a seasonal business but one a city the size of Plymouth should pack all year round,” he said. “We will try to drive that.”
Gary Rhodes’ new restaurant, bar and weddings and events suite at the Plymouth Dome site at Plymouth Hoe – Rhodes @ The Dome – will open in the Summer, it has been confirmed.
Dust off that helmet, pump up those tyres and get in the right gear because Sky Ride is coming to Plymouth in May.
Sky and British Cycling have today confirmed they will be coming to Plymouth on Sunday 13 May to host Sky Ride Plymouth, a free event that will encourage people to have fun on traffic free roads.
Plymouth City Council is closing roads around the city so that everyone can enjoy a safe, family friendly traffic free bike ride. Everyone’s invited – on bikes and trikes, adaptive bikes, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
The news comes just as Plymouth City Council announce the completion of the Stonehouse Creek foot and cycle path, connecting Richmond Walk to Millbridge, as part of the ‘Plymouth Connect – West’ project.
Designed and built by Plymouth Transport and Highways, the partnership between Plymouth City Council and Amey, the new path can be used by all including walkers, runners and cyclists and will be part of the Sky Ride Plymouth route.
‘Plymouth Connect-West’ is part funded by the Council’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) to help upgrade walk and cycle links to the city for jobs, education, healthcare and other essential services.
The charity Sustrans has also part funded the project after receiving a grant from the Big Lottery Fund to help provide fantastic new traffic free and on-road walking and cycling routes. The project aims to link the south west of the city to the existing Sustrans National Cycle Network routes that extend across Plymouth and into Cornwall.
Sky Ride Plymouth is part of Sky Ride 2012, a national campaign from British Cycling and Sky aimed at encouraging the nation to get back on their bikes. Everyone’s invited to participate in Sky Ride, its free and open to all.
This eight kilometre family cycle ride will allow people to travel through traffic-free routes at their own leisure and speed. Starting on The Hoe at 10am the ride will take in the Barbican and the city centre as well as Stonehouse, Royal William Yard, Millbay and West Hoe.
People can join the ride anywhere along the route at anytime during the event and British Cycling trained leaders will be on hand throughout the day to provide support and tips.
Councillor Kevin Wigens, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “I’m delighted that Sky Ride is coming to Plymouth this year. It will be another great boost for the city and will be a fantastic way for people to enjoy all that Plymouth has to offer. I’m sure our residents will get right behind the event in their thousands to make the first Sky Ride in Plymouth a really successful event. Sky Ride will open up the streets for cyclists for one special day and inspire people to get back in the saddle and have a wonderful day out with friends and family.”
Brian Johnston, British Cycling Recreation Manager said: “British Cycling and Sky are proud to partner Plymouth City Council in this amazing year for cycling. Sky Ride Plymouth will be a fun, free cycling day out for families and friends. With entertainment en route and the British Cycling bike cafe there’s something for everyone. We’ll be showcasing all the great ways you can get on a bike in Plymouth including Sky Ride Local led rides which will take place on weekends across the summer. See you at Sky Ride Plymouth!”
Tricia Thompson Sky’s Director of Cycling said: “It’s an exciting year for cycling and it’s great to start our Sky Ride events in Plymouth giving so many people of all ages and abilities the chance to enjoy cycling through their town. Through Plymouth City Council’s support and our four year partnership with British Cycling, we hope to build towards our aim of getting one million more Britons cycling regularly by the end of 2013 and passionate about cycling.”
Sky Ride 2012 builds on the success of the last three years, with Sky and British Cycling’s joint cycling initiatives so far having resulted in hundreds of thousands of more people cycling regularly (cycling at least once a month or 12 times a year).
To find out about all the great ways you can get back on your bike this summer and register for Sky Ride Plymouth and Sky Ride local rides visit the Sky Ride website.
Source: Plymouth City Council