Wheel spins success for Braehead

The wheel would be situated beside the shopping centre car park

A 40m high big wheel could be erected outside the Braehead shopping centre near Glasgow if it gets the go-ahead from council planning officials.

Bosses at Braehead said the wheel would attract tens of thousands of tourists and become a landmark in the west of Scotland.

It would offer views of the River Clyde towards Glasgow and downriver towards Inverclyde and Argyll.

A planning application has been lodged with Renfrewshire Council.

Operators World Heritage Attractions want to build the wheel between the bus station and the Maritime Heritage Centre, at the east end of the shopping centre.

Local boost

Peter Beagley, general manager at Braehead shopping centre, said: "This giant wheel will be a fantastic tourist attraction for Renfrewshire and the west of Scotland and bring a boost to the local economy.

"As well as local people being able to enjoy the wheel, I expect tens of thousands of people to come from well outside the area to see this attraction, which will undoubtedly become a landmark in the west of Scotland."

He added: "The fact that so many people will come to Renfrewshire means local hotels, shops and other visitor attractions out with the shopping centre has the potential to benefit from the wheel being at Braehead."