The Cyprus Ministry of Shipping's Maritime Spatial Planning Committee has said no to a plan to build a Ferris wheel in the old port of Limassol.
The Transport Minister, Alexis Vafiadis, recently announced this.
He says that the €50 million Hyperion Limassol project, suggested by Unique Hyperion Wheel Limassol Ltd, would have involved major changes to the city's water area. The plan was to fill in part of the coastal area and build a three-storey building on the roof. They wanted to put the largest Ferris wheel in Europe on top of the building. It would have been 147 metres high. The new tourist attraction was going to completely change the look of Limassol.
The Port Authority, which is in charge of developing the area, asked the Maritime Spatial Planning Committee for a certificate to show that they are following the rules. But the authority refused to give it to them. The committee said that using the sea area for this purpose goes against Cyprus' current plan for how to use the sea and does not fit with the idea of developing coastal areas in a way that is good for the environment.
The Hyperion Limassol project was created to be an exciting mix of entertainment and culture.
The bottom part of the Ferris wheel was going to have three levels joined together by a spiral ramp. The first floor was going to be used for shops and interactive areas. The second floor was going to be used for a children's area, exhibition spaces and offices. The third floor was going to have a food court, places to control the facilities, places for events and a boarding area.
The wheel had 36 cabins that could hold 6 to 12 people. Engineers said it would be six times lighter and four times more stable than the famous London Eye, and it would meet the strictest international safety standards.
The project was expected to create many jobs and help the local economy to grow. Many people are interested in the project and there is potential for investment. But it is not going to happen – not in its current form anyway. The Committee's decision shows that it is very important to have a plan for the area around the coast, and to follow the rules about the environment and land, even if there is private investment and big plans for the area.
