A BIG wheel which allows everyone and their dogs extensive views across Plymouth has been given permission to operate on The Hoe for the next four years.

The observation wheel will run from March until September, despite concerns from heritage experts and a local neighbourhood forum that it will impact on the area’s many listed memorials and monuments.

Members of Plymouth City Council’s planning committee were told that the grassed area of the Hoe Park, to the east of Armada Way and north of the Promenade, was the most suitable site for the attraction, which measures 34 metres in height and 33 metres wide.

A big wheel is currently operating under permitted development rights at the location until September 1 and various planning applications have been granted over the years for temporary consent, including one for a 53 metre high wheel in 2011.

However, an application for the temporary siting of the wheel on a yearly basis was refused last year because the visual impact and the impact on the historic environment had not been thoroughly assessed.

Cllr Sally Haydon (Lab, St Budeaux) said the Hoe was the “jewel in the crown” of Plymouth and a thriving destination in its own right. The wheel had become “a landmark” and was well received by local businesses and attracted many visitors.

She said it could be accessed by wheelchair users and people with limited mobility who were not able to access other attractions like Smeaton’s Tower, as well as dogs who can even go inside the gondolas, which each hold six passengers.

“Torquay, Bristol and Falmouth have all accommodated an observation wheel and so has France with its medieval cities, why can’t we?”

She said operators JCB Events were based in the south west and came highly recommended by other local authorities, had carried out a considerable amount of surveys and were committed to returning the site to its original condition once the wheel was dismantled each year.

“Our duty is to listen to residents. The wheel has only been up for a short time so far this year and we have had so many fantastic comments.”

Two letters of objection were submitted to Plymouth City Council from residents and opposition was received from Historic England, The Gardens Trust, the council’s urban and historic environment teams and the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum.

There were concerns over loss of a designated public space, impact on the views of Plymouth Hoe and the proposed location of the wheel within the setting of The Royal Citadel Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Cllr Tina Tuohy (Lab, Ham) said she remembered the last wheel and found it “quite disturbing and out of place” when the remembrance service was taking place.

“When it was turning it was totally out of place, but now it is being closed at the end of September I think that problem is solved,” she said.

Councillors requested that a condition be put in place to restrict the wheel’s operation during sensitive events.

Cllr Paul McNamara (Lab, Efford and Lipson) said he was begrudgingly voting in favour of it because it was good for the economy but said “it’s not pretty.”

Cllr Jeremy Goslin (Lab, Peverell) said he understood the significance of putting a “massive wheel” next to a national monument but the Hoe was a multi-functional area with a lighthouse, lido and other assets, where some were more compatible than others.

“It would be inappropriate if you had a garden of remembrance and you slapped a rollercoaster through it but I think given the multi use of the Hoe this site makes sense.”

The application was unanimously supported by the planning committee.