CIVIC chiefs have agreed to put the brakes on plans to install a giant Ferris wheel in Southampton city centre.

The city council has confirmed the 115ft attraction, which was meant to be erected in the Bargate in time for Saturday, will now be delayed by more than a week.

It comes after an agreement was reached between the wheel operators, Eventive Funtime, and the organisers of popular weekly event Southampton Bike Night.

The two camps were set to clash in their use of the Bargate, which Bike Night organisers had booked, for free, until the end of September.

The arrival of the wheel meant the bikers faced losing four meetings, including their final event, a charity fundraiser in aid of Southampton Christian Mission.

However, after a meeting between the two sides, an agreement has now been reached for Bike Night to finish two weeks earlier than scheduled.

The Ferris wheel will subsequently be delayed for up to nine days.

Mark Holman co-founder of the Southampton Bike Night, said: “We came to an agreement with the operator of the wheel.

“We respect the need to bring revenue into the city as a good thing but we also think we bring value to the city at the same time.

“We think this mutual agreement is a good thing for Southampton.”

Mr Holman, 47, also said the group were relieved that they would still be able to host their annual charity meeting, which will now takes place on Thursday, September 14, from 6pm.

He added: “It’s a great event. Weather permitting this year, we are expecting as many as 1,000 bikes.”

As previously reported by the Echo, attraction providers, Eventive Funtime, were due to begin installing their ‘Observation Wheel’ this week, in time for a Saturday opening.

However, following meetings with Southampton City Council and the organisers of Bike Night, the Derby-based company will instead begin building the structure on Friday, September 15.

The council say the wheel should be ready by Monday, September 18.

Despite the setback, managing director of Eventive Funtime, Garry Evans, said he was pleased an agreement had been reached.

He said: “We had a meeting with the city council and organisers of Bike Night where we came to an agreement to help the bikers.

“They said they would bring their meeting forward two weeks and we would hold off until next weekend.

“We are happy to do this.”

The announcement that a compromise been reached between the two parties has been met positively by Southampton City Council’s cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, councillor Satvir Kaur.

She said: “We have got a really great events team here at the council who have acted as a mediator between the operators of the wheel and Bike Night.

“They’ve done a really good job in arranging this compromise.”

Councillor Kaur added that the delay to the set-up of the wheel would not come at a cost to the authority.

Once installed, the giant wheel, dubbed the “UK’s tallest mobile Ferris Wheel”, will mimic similar attractions in Liverpool and Bournemouth.

The Dorset seaside resort hosted a similar portable wheel for three weeks in 2016.

But it proved such a success that the wheel was rolled back into town for seven months.

When it finally arrives in Southampton, the sky-high attraction, will offer a “unique view” over the city.

According to Mr Evans, the ride will last around five minutes and cost £4 per person and £12 for a family of four.