THE future of a weekly city centre event will be thrown into doubt when Southampton’s newest attraction arrives.

Southampton Bike Night may be forced to move, downsize or cancel their meetings next month, when a giant 35-metre Ferris wheel is installed at the Bargate.

The 500-strong group, which meets there every Thursday between April and September, had booked the space for free until the end of next month.

But the group has now been told by Southampton City Council that the wheel will “take precedence” and it will have to “co-exist” with the 115-foot structure, due to be erected at the start of September.

Organiser Mark Holman has called the decision “unfair” and fears the group’s arranged meetings at the end of September are now “at risk”.

This includes the group’s final charity meeting, on Thursday, August 28, which last year collected a Transit van full of food and supplies for the Southampton Christian Mission.

Mr Holman, 47, said: “We gave the council a detailed plan earlier this year so they knew what we were doing.

“But the council has said if they get something which makes money then that takes precedence.

“They’ve asked us to co-exist but given the amount of people who attend Bike Night – and because it’s unclear at the moment what space we will have – it could be dangerous.”

He said the wheel could be a “great thing” but described the situation as a “kick in the teeth”.

As exclusively revealed by the Daily Echo yesterday, the mobile Ferris wheel is due to be erected in time for September 9.

The attraction will remain at the Bargate until October 29.

The council’s cabinet member for communities, culture and leisure, councillor Satvir Kaur, said: “Having too much to offer and having too many events is a good problem to have. With this you are going to have clashes and unfortunately this is one of them.

“The group is aware they have the land for free for seven months but if the area is needed for other activities these take precedence.”