WEYMOUTH will have a big wheel on the beach after councillors backed the plan.

Proposals by a business to build a 28-metre observation wheel were agreed by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council yesterday.

J Holland and Sons Ltd will get a licence to operate the wheel, which could be in place by the summer.

The council management committee welcomed the scheme as a way of boosting visitor numbers and providing an exciting attraction for people in the town.

Councillor Doug Hollings said the proposal was in keeping with Weymouth's image as a tourist town.

He said: "I like the idea and I think we should agree to it.

"This sort of thing has been part of the seaside image for years. It is an exciting proposal for visitors and residents."

The wheel is earmarked for a site next to the old aquarium.

In previous years the area has been used for a bungee trampoline.

But councillors agreed licensing of the site for a wheel will generate 'substantially greater licence income' than previous users.

The operating licence has been granted on a trial basis.

It runs for the next two summers at which point the council could grant a permanent licence.

Each winter the wheel will move to a city location.

Councillor Jacqui Redfern wanted assurances construction of the wheel would not damage the beach area.

Councillor Tim Munro wanted to know whether the wheel would be moved if it failed to attract users.

He was told officers would keep a close eye on whether the wheel was a success.

There will be no damage to the beach but in the long term the wheel may have to move to another site.

J Holland and Sons, which is the current tenant of Alexandra Gardens, said before the meeting the wheel would go to another town if councillors rejected it.

The business, which runs a family entertainment centre in the town, has already ordered the 20-capsule wheel from manufacturers in Italy.

The decision by the council means that it has now agreed to the principle of the scheme.

J Holland and Sons must get a structural engineer's report and appoint an architect to oversee a planning application.

Key issues including the design and flood risk still need to be resolved but it is hoped the wheel can be up and running by June.