Birmingham's Christmas big wheel and ice rink cancelled due to works
Two major festive tourist attractions will not be heading to Birmingham this year, council chiefs have confirmed.
The big wheel and ice rink which are normally set up in Centenary Square have been cancelled.
This is a result of the ongoing £10 million revamp of the square – which has left no space for the Christmas events to be held.
And bosses have been unable to find an alternative site for the attractions.
A Birmingham City Council spokesman said: “Because of the major refurbishment of Centenary Square, both officers and the operator have been unable to find an alternative site large enough to accommodate the ice rink and big wheel.”
The wheel usually offers spectacular views over city.
Work on the Centenary Square project is not due to be finished until next summer.
It will have a pool with water jets installed and will also be able to host major events, with 43 'lighting columns' illuminating the surrounds at night.
The revamp is the second major development of the site in 30 years – it officially opened in 1991 and was named in 1989 to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Birmingham being granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1889.
However, there is no problem with another annual Christmas event in the Second City.
The German Market – which attracts thousands of visitors to the city centre every year – will be held in Victoria Square down New Street from November 16 to Christmas Eve.
It usually operates in tandem with the big wheel and ice rink, which tend to be open until the first weekend in January.
