Bit by bit.

I have decided to make the very base of the columns made out of glass with metal frames. But this will show the little spiral staircase which gives the impression that a staircase runs all the way up the columns to the top. (A long climb, but I'm sure I can have a bit of artistic license.) I'm really hoping this works, but I suppose I won't really find out properly until I've done the texturing. If it doesn't I'll just merge the columns in from an older version of the scene that I have saved.

Dark render.... I have made a little platform which would be used for people to get on the ferris wheel. I put some stairs just below it with a hole in the platform for them to step through. I've also put some little umbrellas on the edges just to fill up some space. I think it looks alright... I might change it, but we will see how much time I end up with.

I also made some ropes hanging between the towers and the little approaches. I did this by using the simulator and rope modifier - to make it look like the rope actually has some weight on it. So it is beginning to look a little more like a revamped version of the tower bridge.
And again from the opposite side. I do really need to sort out my lighting properly. So I can stop getting really dark patches and rings.

View from inside one of the approaches. I think this shows clearer the scale of the thing - The bit in between the tall towers and the approaches/little towers is a bit empty, so maybe I'll put an archway in :)