LONDON’S bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012 could be jeopardised if the London Eye is forced to move because of rent increases, the Conservatives said yesterday.

The landmark tourist attraction, which celebrated its fifth anniversary in March, could be closed down if its owners refuse to accept a substantial increase in rent proposed by the South Bank Centre, which owns the land it is built on. The centre, a government-appointed body, wants to increase the rent from £65,000 a year to £2.5 million. The South Bank board has sent a letter threatening to evict the giant wheel by July 1.

Theresa May, the Shadow Culture Secretary, said that it would be unacceptable if the Eye were forced to move and any problems could threaten London’s chances of being awarded the Olympics because the wheel was being used to promote the capital’s bid.

She said. “It is absolutely unacceptable that its future should be put at risk. The Eye is a prominent feature in all of the London Olympic bid promotional activities, yet at the same time its future is in jeopardy. What sort of message does this send to the Olympic committee?” The South Bank Centre is chaired by Lord Hollick, a Labour peer appointed by Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary. A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that she would be speaking to Lord Hollick.

He said. “She is not going to directly intervene. If a stalemate does develop, she will, if asked, be very happy to bring the parties together.”

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