Edinburgh Council confirm that Portobello’s big wheel will not open tomorrow

Operators moved in on Tuesday to begin building the wheel

A ferris wheel erected in Portobello which has caused controversy amongst locals will not open as advertised the City of Edinburgh Council have confirmed.

Yesterday, images emerged on social media of the wheel being built near Portobello beach.

In a social media post, funfair appreciation group Funfairs Around Scotland (FAS) said on Thursday: “If you are down at Portobello beach one the weekend don’t forget to have a go on its newest tourist attraction! The 32 metre observation wheel gives stunning views of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.”

FAS wrote that the big wheel would open this Saturday 8 August.

This prompted The City of Edinburgh Council to respond. The official council account tweeted on Friday: “Under the current health protection rules, funfairs are unable to operate until at least 24 August and so the wheel can’t open this weekend and will not open until the guidance allows.”

However, the tweet was then challenged as Funfairs Around Scotland said: “It’s not a funfair.”

Scottish Green Councillor for Portobello and Craigmillar Mary Campbell also shared information in a Twitter thread with concerned residents regarding the wheel and licensing and advised that she had passed all resident concerns onto licensing officers.

She said: “At present funfairs are not permitted to operate due to the emergency health protection regulations and the grant of a licence does not alter that legal restriction.

"We are speaking with the operator who perhaps understandably trying to find a way of being allowed to operate.

“Press coverage last week where similar operators have been raising concerns about whether the term ‘funfairs’ in the regulations applies to them or whether they are a tourist attraction.

“The operators have been told quite clearly that the Ferris wheel may not operate as the health protection rules apply until at least 24 August and the granting of a licence does not alter that fact.

“Meantime there is no restriction on the building of the funfair so there may be a period when it is there but not open to the public. The ride requires safety certificates annually and for that may be tested over the next few days.”

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Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Funfairs Around Scotland were the operators of the wheel. This was wrong and has been amended.