Big wheel returns to island fair

BARRY Island’s 100ft ferris wheel is back.

Owner Henry Danter installed the eye-catching attraction at Barry Island Pleasure Park in October to replace the former Barry High on the site at Paget Road.

But the attraction was torn down after the Vale of Glamorgan council found he didn’t get planning permission.

Following a dispute between the fairground owners and the council over planning permission the wheel was erected in a London park for a winter festival – but it is now back in Barry.

Mr Danter, 73, said: “Now that is has planning permission we are hoping to open it this weekend in time for half term.

“We have had our moments but it seems to be all sorted now. The big wheel is an icon of Wales.

“It’s not as big as the London Eye but it’s not far off.”

Mr Danter said he hoped the wheel would attract more business and visitors to the area.

He said: “You can see it from miles around – it speaks for itself.

“It will bring people to the island – we’ve already had lots of phone calls about it.”

The dispute over the wheel was not the first between the council and the fairground owner.

In the summer the fairground was accused of building an extension at the park without the correct planning permission and down.

And earlier last year the council decided to pursue a legal case against him over a structurally unsound dodgems building at the park.

At the end of November Mr Danter it was taken admitted breaking building regulations at the park in a hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Danter pleaded guilty to breaching part A1 of the Building Regulations 2010 when he extended the arcade building.

He was fined £20,700 and ordered to pay £14,311 in court costs.

When Mr Danter took over the fairground he promised a £22m redevelopment of the site, with plans to see it become “the best tourist attraction in Wales” within five years.