IT’S only a proposal at this stage, but the Port of Torrevieja could soon be getting a version of the iconic London Eye.
Dutch company, SkyView Attractions, sent representatives to visit the centre of Torrevieja on Friday to look at the feasibility of building a giant Ferris wheel.
SkyView Attractions already have several similar types of attractions dotted around Europe and have previously carried out a study of the area after ruling out Benidorm as a potential location. The Costa Blanca’s busiest tourist resort was rejected due to a perceived lack of available space close enough to the beach for such a project to be enjoyed to its full extent.
Both the promoters and the Torrevieja City Council agreed that the ideal location for the planned 60m high wheel would be close to the port area, next to the sea and right in the heart of the tourist zone. The promoters have been given tourism figures from over the years to aid the decision making process.
Before such a construction can get passed the planning stage, rigorous technical conditions will need to be met taking into account the location of the water table, height limitations and the fact that Torrevieja is on a well-known earthquake zone. Current building regulations in force explain why there are no skyscrapers in Torrevieja compared to Benidorm less than 100km along the coast.
The popularity of the giant Ferris wheel attractions was started with the launch of the London Eye on 31 December 1999 which stands at 135m (443ft) high.
One of the most recent additions to the SkyView Attractions portfolio is found at The Hague in Holland and stands 40m high.
No decision has yet been taken on the height of the planned Torrevieja Eye but will probably be no more than six stories above the ground.
