Ferris wheel dismantled over fears of goose strike

Work has started to dismantle a ferris wheel on the seafront in Southsea, Hampshire, because of fears thousands of migratory birds might fly into it. The Solent Wheel, which is 115ft (35m) high, was erected in April.





The £750,000 attraction is going because large flocks of brent geese are due to arrive from Russia to spend the winter on nearby mudflats. Clarence Pier, the owner of the wheel, said it expected to relocate the ride to another resort.





A spokesperson said the company was unable to "resolve planning issues regarding brent geese". In order for the ride to remain, a bird survey was needed to show that winter operation would not have a significant effect on the geese.





Natural England said it was concerned about the "potential impacts" of the tall structure to the geese, which fly between the land next to the wheel and mudflats in the nearby harbours. According to the RSPB, the Southsea area has a flock of more than 2,600 Brent geese that arrive during October and leave in March.