WORK to remove the eyesore base of the defunct Bournemouth Balloon from the Lower Gardens will be carried out over the coming weeks.

Last month it was announced that the iconic attraction would not be returning to the gardens after disappearing in June last year for what was described as essential maintenance.

Operator S&D Leisure was then embroiled in a lengthy negotiation with its insurer.

According to a report to Bournemouth council’s environment and transport overview and scrutiny panel, “work to remove the balloon from the Lower Gardens will be undertaken this Spring, avoiding holidays and weekends”, with the goal of grassing over the area ready for the summer.

The report says there is a “significant amount” of concrete foundation to be removed from “various sections of the northern end of the gardens”.

Footpaths will need to be diverted to allow the work to take place.

Councillor Lawrence Williams, the outgoing cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said the warm, sunny weather could see the work started as soon as next week.

“I think nobody can quite believe the weather,” he said. “We shouldn’t be in a position to do this sort of work just yet.

“We want to get it done as soon as possible. It could be next week, but it might not be. There is a process to go through.

“As far as I know everything will be cleared away and the ground made good.”

In January, Councillor Nick Rose said he had seen proposals for the balloon to be replaced with a Ferris wheel, similar to the ‘Big Wheel’ attraction which has been set up in the Triangle and in Pier Approach in recent months, and which has proved popular with residents and visitors.

Cllr Williams, who will start his new duties as mayor later this month, said he didn’t want to pre-empt his successor by revealing any plans for the site.

“I am sure my successor will have their own thoughts, it would be very unfair of me to do that,” he said.

The decision to ditch the balloon, which has been a feature of the gardens for more than 15 years, was made by the council alongside S&D Leisure and the Lower Central Gardens Trust, which manages the area.

The council said Manchester-based S&D “could no longer commit” to running the attraction due to “increasing operating costs”.